Transacylases of the paclitaxel biosynthetic pathway

ABSTRACT

Transacylase enzymes and the use of such enzymes to produce paclitaxel and related taxoids, as well as intermediates in the paclitaxel biosynthetic pathway, are disclosed. Also disclosed are nucleic acid sequences encoding such transacylase enzymes such as (but without limitation) C-13 phenylpropanoid side chain-CoA acyltransferase and benzoyl-CoA:3′-N-debenzoyl-2′-deoxytaxol N-benzoyltransferase.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part and claims the benefit of co-pending U.S application Ser. No. 09/866,570, filed May 25, 2001, herein incorporated by reference, which is a divisional of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/457,046, filed Dec. 7, 1999, issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,835 on Sep. 11, 2001, herein incorporated by reference, which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/411,145, filed Sep. 30, 1999, herein incorporated by reference.

ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF GOVERNMENT SUPPORT

[0002] This invention was made with government support under National Cancer Institute Grant No. CA-55254. The government has certain rights in this invention.

FIELD

[0003] The invention relates to transacylase polypeptides and methods of using such polypeptides to produce paclitaxel and related taxoids.

BACKGROUND

[0004] The complex diterpenoid Taxol® (paclitaxel) (Wani et al., J. Am. Chem. Soc. 93:2325-2327, 1971) is a potent antimitotic agent with excellent activity against a wide range of cancers, including ovarian and breast cancer (Arbuck and Blaylock, Taxol™: Science and Applications, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 397-415, 1995; Holmes et al., ACS Symposium Series 583:31-57, 1995). Taxol™ was originally isolated from the bark of the Pacific yew (Taxus brevifolia). For a number of years, Taxol® was obtained exclusively from yew bark, but low yields of this compound from the natural source coupled to the destructive nature of the harvest, prompted new methods of Taxol® production to be developed. Taxol® is currently produced primarily by semisynthesis from advanced taxane metabolites (Holton et al., Taxol™: Science and Applications, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 97-121, 1995) that are present in the needles (a renewable resource) of various Taxus species. However, because of the increasing demand for this drug (both for use earlier in the course of cancer intervention and for new therapeutic applications) (Goldspiel, Pharmacotherapy 17:110S-125S, 1997), availability and cost remain important issues. Total chemical synthesis of Taxol® is not economically feasible. Hence, biological production of the drug and its immediate precursors will remain the method of choice for the foreseeable future. Such biological production may rely upon either intact Taxus plants, Taxus cell cultures (Ketchum et al., Biotechnol. Bioeng. 62:97-105, 1999), or, potentially, microbial systems (Stierle et al., J. Nat. Prod. 58:1315-1324, 1995). In all cases, improving the biological production yields of Taxol® depends upon a detailed understanding of the biosynthetic pathway, the enzymes catalyzing the sequence of reactions, especially the rate-limiting steps, and the genes encoding these proteins. Isolation of nucleic acids encoding enzymes involved in the pathway is a particularly important goal, since overexpression of these genes in a producing organism can be expected to markedly improve yields of the drug.

[0005] The Taxol® biosynthetic pathway is considered to involve more than 12 distinct steps (Floss and Mocek, Taxol: Science and Applications, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 191-208, 1995; and Croteau et al., Curr. Top. Plant Physiol. 15:94-104, 1996), however, very few of the enzymatic reactions and intermediates of this complex pathway have been defined. The first committed enzyme of the Taxol® pathway is taxadiene synthase (Koepp et al., J. Biol. Chem. 270:8686-8690, 1995) that cyclizes the common precursor geranylgeranyl diphosphate (Hefner et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 360:62-74, 1998) to taxadiene (FIG. 1). The cyclized intermediate subsequently undergoes modification involving at least eight oxygenation steps, a dehydrogenation, an epoxide rearrangement to an oxetane, and several acylations (Floss and Mocek, Taxol™: Science and Applications, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 191-208, 1995; Croteau et al., Curr. Top. Plant Physiol. 15:94-104, 1996). Taxadiene synthase has been isolated from T. brevifolia and characterized (Hezari et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 322:437-444, 1995), the mechanism of action defined (Lin et al., Biochemistry 35:2968-2977, 1996), and the corresponding cDNA clone isolated and expressed (Wildung and Croteau, J. Biol. Chem. 271:9201-9204, 1996).

[0006] The second specific step of Taxol® biosynthesis is an oxygenation reaction catalyzed by taxadiene-5α-hydroxylase (FIG. 1). The enzyme, characterized as a cytochrome P450, has been demonstrated in Taxus microsome preparations to catalyze the stereospecific hydroxylation of taxa-4(5),11(12)-diene, with double bond rearrangement, to taxa-4(20),11(12)-dien-5α-ol (Hefner et al., Chem. Biol. 3:479-489, 1996).

[0007] The third specific step of Taxol® biosynthesis appears to be the acetylation of taxa-4(20),11(12)-dien-5α-ol to taxa-4(20),11(12)-dien-5α-yl acetate by an acetyl CoA-dependent transacetylase (Walker et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 364:273-279, 1999), since the resulting acetate ester is then further efficiently oxygenated to a series of advanced polyhydroxylated Taxol® metabolites in microsomal preparations that have been optimized for cytochrome P450 reactions (FIG. 1). The enzyme has been isolated from induced yew cell cultures (Taxus canadensis and Taxus cuspidata), and the operationally soluble enzyme lo was partially purified by a combination of anion exchange, hydrophobic interaction, and affinity chromatography on immobilized coenzyme A resin. This acetyl transacylase has a pI and pH optimum of 4.7 and 9.0, respectively, and a molecular weight of about 50,000 as determined by gel-permeation chromatography. The enzyme shows high selectivity and high affinity for both cosubstrates with K_(m) values of 4.2 μM and 5.5 μM for taxadienol and acetyl CoA, respectively. The enzyme does not acetylate the more advanced Taxol® precursors, 10-deacetylbaccatin III or baccatin III. This acetyl transacylase is insensitive to monovalent and divalent metal ions, is only weakly inhibited by thiol-directed reagents and Co-enzyme A, and in general displays properties similar to those of other O-acetyl transacylases. This acetyl CoA:taxadien-5α-ol O-acetyl transacylase from Taxus (Walker et al., Arch. Biochem. 20 Biophys. 364:273-279, 1999) appears to be substantially different in size, substrate selectivity, and kinetics from an acetyl CoA: 10-hydroxytaxane O-acetyl transacylase recently isolated and described from Taxus chinensis (Menhard and Zenk, Phytochemistry 50:763-774, 1999).

[0008] Acquisition of the nucleic acid encoding the acetyl CoA:taxa-4(20),11(12)-dien-5α-ol O-acetyl transacylase that catalyzes the first acylation step of Taxol® biosynthesis and genes encoding other acyl transfer steps directed to the taxane core and to side chain assembly would represent important advances in efforts to increase Taxol® yields by genetic engineering and in vitro synthesis.

SUMMARY

[0009] Disclosed are twelve amplicons (regions of DNA amplified by a pair of primers using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR)). These amplicons can be used to identify transacylases, for example, the transacylases shown in SEQ ID NOs: 26, 28, 45, 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58 that are encoded by the nucleic acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 25, 27, 44, 49, 51, 53, 55, and 57. These sequences are isolated from the Taxus genus, and the respective transacylases are useful for the synthetic production of Taxol® and related taxoids, as well as intermediates within the Taxol® biosynthetic pathway. The sequences also can be used for the creation of transgenic organisms that either produce the transacylases for subsequent in vitro use, or produce the transacylases in vivo so as to alter the level of Taxol® and taxoid production within the transgenic organism.

[0010] The nucleic acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, and 23 and the corresponding amino acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, and 24, as well as fragments of the nucleic acid and the amino acid sequences are also provided. These sequences are useful for isolating the nucleic acid and amino acid sequences corresponding to full-length transacylases. These amino acid sequences and nucleic acid sequences also are useful for creating specific binding agents that recognize the corresponding transacylases.

[0011] In some embodiments, transacylases and fragments of transacylases that have amino acid and nucleic acid sequences that vary from the disclosed sequences are identified. As one non-limiting example, the disclosed amino acid sequences can be used to identify other transacylase polypeptides that vary by one or more conservative amino acid substitutions from, or that share at least 50% sequence identity with, the disclosed amino acid sequences. In specific embodiments, the other transacylase polypeptides that are identified maintain transacylase activity.

[0012] The nucleic acid sequences encoding the transacylases and fragments of the transacylases can be cloned into vectors, using standard molecular biology techniques. These vectors can then be used to transform host cells. Thus, a host cell can be modified to express either increased levels of transacylase or decreased levels of transacylase.

[0013] Also disclosed are methods for isolating nucleic acid sequences encoding full-length transacylases. The methods involve hybridizing at least ten contiguous nucleotides of any of the nucleic acid sequences shown in SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 44, 49, 51, 53, 55, and 57 to a second nucleic acid sequence, wherein the second nucleic acid sequence encodes a transacylase. This method can be practiced in the context of, for example, Northern blots, Southern blots, and the polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Therefore, some embodiments include transacylase nucleic acids and polypeptides identified by such a method.

[0014] Furthermore, methods of adding at least one acyl group to at least one taxoid or taxoid side chain are provided. These methods can be practiced in vivo or in vitro, and can be used to add acyl groups to various intermediates in the Taxol® biosynthetic pathway, and to add acyl groups to related taxoids or taxoid side chains that are not necessarily in a Taxol® biosynthetic pathway.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEQUENCE LISTING

[0015] The nucleic acid and amino acid sequences listed herein are shown using standard letter abbreviations for nucleotide bases and the standard one- or three-letter abbreviations for amino acid residues. Only one strand of each nucleic acid sequence is shown, but the complementary strand is understood as included by any reference to the displayed strand.

[0016] SEQ ID NO: 1 is the nucleotide sequence of Probe 1.

[0017] SEQ ID NO: 2 is the deduced amino acid sequence of Probe 1.

[0018] SEQ ID NO: 3 is the nucleotide sequence of Probe 2.

[0019] SEQ ID NO: 4 is the deduced amino acid sequence of Probe 2.

[0020] SEQ ID NO: 5 is the nucleotide sequence of Probe 3.

[0021] SEQ ID NO: 6 is the deduced amino acid sequence of Probe 3.

[0022] SEQ ID NO: 7 is the nucleotide sequence of Probe 4.

[0023] SEQ ID NO: 8 is the deduced amino acid sequence of Probe 4.

[0024] SEQ ID NO: 9 is the nucleotide sequence of Probe 5.

[0025] SEQ ID NO: 10 is the deduced amino acid sequence of Probe 5.

[0026] SEQ ID NO: 11 is the nucleotide sequence of Probe 6.

[0027] SEQ ID NO: 12 is the deduced amino acid sequence of Probe 6.

[0028] SEQ ID NO: 13 is the nucleotide sequence of Probe 7.

[0029] SEQ ID NO: 14 is the deduced amino acid sequence of Probe 7.

[0030] SEQ ID NO: 15 is the nucleotide sequence of Probe 8.

[0031] SEQ ID NO: 16 is the deduced amino acid sequence of Probe 8.

[0032] SEQ ID NO: 17 is the nucleotide sequence of Probe 9.

[0033] SEQ ID NO: 18 is the deduced amino acid sequence of Probe 9.

[0034] SEQ ID NO: 19 is the nucleotide sequence of Probe 10.

[0035] SEQ ID NO: 20 is the deduced amino acid sequence of Probe 10.

[0036] SEQ ID NO: 21 is the nucleotide sequence of Probe 11.

[0037] SEQ ID NO: 22 is the deduced amino acid sequence of Probe 11.

[0038] SEQ ID NO: 23 is the nucleotide sequence of Probe 12.

[0039] SEQ ID NO: 24 is the deduced amino acid sequence of Probe 12.

[0040] SEQ ID NO: 25 is the nucleotide sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX2.

[0041] SEQ ID NO: 26 is the deduced amino acid sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX2.

[0042] SEQ ID NO: 27 is the nucleotide sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX1.

[0043] SEQ ID NO: 28 is the deduced amino acid sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX1.

[0044] SEQ ID NO: 29 is the amino acid sequence of a transacylase peptide fragment.

[0045] SEQ ID NO: 30 is the amino acid sequence of a transacylase peptide fragment.

[0046] SEQ ID NO: 31 is the amino acid sequence of a transacylase peptide fragment.

[0047] SEQ ID NO: 32 is the amino acid sequence of a transacylase peptide fragment.

[0048] SEQ ID NO: 33 is the amino acid sequence of a transacylase peptide fragment.

[0049] SEQ ID NO: 34 is the AT-FOR1 PCR primer.

[0050] SEQ ID NO: 35 is the AT-FOR2 PCR primer.

[0051] SEQ ID NO: 36 is the AT-FOR3 PCR primer.

[0052] SEQ ID NO: 37 is the AT-FOR4 PCR primer.

[0053] SEQ ID NO: 38 is the AT-REV1 PCR primer.

[0054] SEQ ID NO: 39 is an amino acid sequence variant that allowed for the design of the AT-FOR3 PCR primer.

[0055] SEQ ID NO: 40 is an amino acid sequence variant that allowed for the design of the AT-FOR4 PCR primer.

[0056] SEQ ID NO: 41 is a consensus amino acid sequence that allowed for the design of the AT-REV1 PCR primer.

[0057] SEQ ID NO: 42 is a PCR primer, useful for identifying transacylases.

[0058] SEQ ID NO: 43 is a PCR primer, useful for identifying transacylases.

[0059] SEQ ID NO: 44 is the nucleotide sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX6.

[0060] SEQ ID NO: 45 is the deduced amino acid sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX6.

[0061] SEQ ID NO: 46 is a PCR primer, useful for identifying TAX6.

[0062] SEQ ID NO: 47 is a PCR primer, useful for identifying TAX6.

[0063] SEQ ID NO: 48 is a 6-amino acid motif commonly found in transacylases.

[0064] SEQ ID NO: 49 is the nucleotide sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX5.

[0065] SEQ ID NO: 50 is the deduced amino acid sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX5.

[0066] SEQ ID NO: 51 is the nucleotide sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX7.

[0067] SEQ ID NO: 52 is the deduced amino acid sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX7.

[0068] SEQ ID NO: 53 is the nucleotide sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX10.

[0069] SEQ ID NO: 54 is the deduced amino acid sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX10.

[0070] SEQ ID NO: 55 is the nucleotide sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX12.

[0071] SEQ ID NO: 56 is the deduced amino acid sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX12.

[0072] SEQ ID NO: 57 is the nucleotide sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX13.

[0073] SEQ ID NO: 58 is the deduced amino acid sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX13.

[0074] SEQ ID NO: 59 is the nucleotide sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX9.

[0075] SEQ ID NO: 60 is the deduced amino acid sequence of the full-length acyltransacylase clone TAX9.

[0076] SEQ ID NO: 61-76 are the amino acid sequences shown in FIG. 6.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0077]FIG. 1 is an illustration of the enzymatic reactions of the Taxol® pathway indicating cyclization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate to taxa-4(5),11(12)-diene, followed by hydroxylation/rearrangement and acetylation to taxa-4(20),11(12)-dien-5α-yl acetate. The acetate is further converted to 10-deacetylbaccatin III, baccatin III, and Taxol®. In the figure, the “a” reaction is catalyzed by taxadiene synthase; the “b” reaction is catalyzed by taxadiene-5α-hydroxylase; the “c” reaction is catalyzed by taxadien-5α-ol acetyl transacylase; the “d” reaction is catalyzed by a 10-deacetylbaccatin III acetyl transacylase and “e” reactions are catalyzed by several side chain assembly enzymes. The latter two steps are further described below.

[0078]FIG. 2 is a table of peptide sequences generated by endolysC and trypsin proteolysis of purified taxadienol acetyl transacylase.

[0079] FIGS. 3A-3C are graphs showing FPLC elution profiles, while FIG. 3D is a digitized image showing purity of taxadien-5α-ol acetyl transacylase after hydroxyapatite chromatography. FIG. 3A is an elution profile of the acetyl transacylase on Source HR 15Q (10×100 mm) preparative scale anion-exchange chromatography; FIG. 3B is an elution profile on analytical scale Source HR 15Q (5×50 mm) column chromatography; and FIG. 3C is an elution profile on the ceramic hydroxyapatite column. In FIGS. 3A-3C, the solid line is the UV absorbance at 280 nm; the dotted line is the relative transacetylase activity (dpm); and the hatched line is the elution gradient (sodium chloride or sodium phosphate). FIG. 3D is a digitized image of a photograph of a silver-stained 12% SDS-PAGE showing the purity of taxadien-5α-ol acetyl transacylase (˜50 kDa) after hydroxyapatite chromatography. A minor contaminant is present at ˜35 kDa.

[0080]FIG. 4 is an illustration of the four forward (AT-FOR1, AT-FOR2, AT-FOR3, AT-FOR4; SEQ ID NOS: 34-37) and one reverse (AT-REV1; SEQ ID NO: 38) degenerate primers that were used to amplify an induced Taxus cell library cDNA from which twelve hybridization probes were obtained. Inosine positions are indicated by “I”. Each of the forward primers was paired with the reverse primer in separate PCR reactions. Primers AT-FOR1 (SEQ ID NO: 34) and AT-FOR2 (SEQ ID NO: 35) were designed from the tryptic fragment SEQ ID NO: 30; the remaining primers were derived by database searching based on SEQ ID NO: 30.

[0081] FIGS. 5A-5G are graphs illustrating data obtained from a coupled gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric (GC-MS) analysis of the biosynthetic taxadien-5α-yl acetate formed during the incubation of taxadien-5α-ol with soluble enzyme extracts from isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG)-induced E. coli JM109 cells transformed with full-length acyltransacylase clones TAX1 (SEQ ID NO: 27) and TAX2 (SEQ ID NO: 25). FIGS. 5A and 5B show the respective GC and MS profiles of authentic taxadien-5α-ol; FIGS. 5C and 5D show the respective GC and MS profiles of authentic taxadien-5α-yl acetate; FIG. 5E shows the GC profile of taxadien-5α-ol (11.16 minutes), taxadien-5α-yl acetate (11.82 minutes), dehydrated taxadien-5α-ol (“TOH-H₂O” peak), and a contaminant, bis-(2-ethylhexyl)phthlate (“BEHP” peak, a plasticizer, CAS 117-81-7, extracted from buffer) after incubation of taxadien-5α-ol and acetyl coenzyme A with the soluble polypeptide fraction derived from E. coli JM109 transformed with the full-length clone TAX1. FIG. 5F shows the mass spectrum of biosynthetically formed taxadien-5α-yl acetate by the recombinant enzyme (11.82 minute peak in GC profile FIG. 5E); FIG. 5G shows the GC profile of the products generated from taxadien-5α-ol and acetyl coenzyme A by incubation with the soluble enzyme fraction derived from E. Coli JM109 cells transformed with the full-length clone TAX2 (SEQ ID NO: 25) (the absence of taxadien-5α-yl acetate indicates that this clone is inactive in the transacylase reaction).

[0082] FIGS. 6A-6N illustrate a sequence alignment of the deduced amino acid sequences listed in Table 2, and of TAX1 (SEQ. ID NO: 28) and TAX2 (SEQ ID NO: 26). Residues underlined in bold italics indicate the few regions of conservation. Forward arrow (left to right) shows conserved region from which degenerate forward PCR primers were designed. Reverse arrow (right to left) shows region from which the reverse PCR primer was designed (cf, FIG. 4).

[0083]FIG. 7 is a dendrogram showing deduced peptide sequence relationships between Taxus transacylase sequences (Probes 1-12, TAX1 (SEQ. ID NO: 28), and TAX2 (SEQ ID NO: 26)) and closest relative sequences of defined and unknown function obtained from the GenBank database described in Table 2.

[0084] FIGS. 8A-8B illustrate a biosynthetic scheme for the formation of the oxetane, present in Taxol® and related late-stage taxoids. FIG. 8A shows the outline of the Taxol® biosynthetic pathway. The cyclization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate to taxadiene by taxadiene synthase, and the hydroxylation to taxadien-5α-ol by taxadiene 5-α-hydroxylase (a), the acetylation of taxadien-5α-ol by taxa-4(20),11(12)-dien-5α-ol-O-acetyl transferase (b), the conversion of 10-deacetylbaccatin III to baccatin III by 10-deacetylbaccatin III-10-O-acetyl transferase (c), and the side chain attachment to baccatin III to form Taxol® (d) are highlighted. The broken arrow indicates several as yet undefined steps. FIG. 8B shows a postulate biosynthetic scheme for the formation of the oxetane, present in Taxol® and related late-stage taxoids, in which the 4(20)-ene-5α-ol is converted to the 4(20)-ene-5α-yl acetate followed by epoxidation to the 4(20)-epoxy-5α-acetoxy group and then intramolecular rearrangement to the 4-acetoxy oxetane moiety.

[0085] FIGS. 9A-9B are graphs illustrating radio-HPLC (high-performance liquid chromatography) analysis of the biosynthetic product (R_(t)=7.0±0.1 minutes) generated from 10-deacetylbaccatin III and [2-³H]acetyl CoA by the recombinant acetyl transferase (polypeptide expressed from TAX6 (SEQ ID NO: 45)). The top trace (FIG. 9A) shows the UV profile and the bottom trace (FIG. 9B) shows the coincident radioactivity profile, both of which coincide with the retention time of authentic baccatin III. For the enzyme preparation, E. coli cells transformed with the pCWori+ vector harboring the putative DBAT nucleic acid (TAX6) were grown overnight at 37° C. in 5 mL Luria-Bertani medium supplemented with ampicillin, and 1 mL of this inoculum was added to and grown in 100 mL Terrific Broth culture medium (6 g bacto-tryptone, Difco Laboratories, Spark, Md., 12 g yeast extract, EM Science, Cherryhill, N.J., and 2 mL gycerol in 500 mL water) supplemented with 1 mM IPTG, 1 mM thiamine HCl and 50 μg ampicillin/mL. After 24 hours, the bacteria were harvested by centrifugation, resuspended in 20 mL of assay buffer (25 mM Mopso, pH 7.4) and then disrupted by sonication at 0-4° C. The resulting homogenate was centrifuged at 15,000 g to remove debris, and a 1 mL aliquot of the supernatant was incubated with 10-deacetylbaccatin III (400 μM) and [2-³H]acetyl coenzyme A (0.45 μCi, 400 μM) for 1 hour at 31°0 C. The reaction mixture was then extracted with ether and the solvent concentrated in vacuo. The crude product (pooled from five such assays) was purified by silica gel thin-layer chromatography (TLC; 70:30 ethyl acetate: hexane). The band co-migrating with authentic baccatin III (Rf=0.45 for the standard) was isolated and analyzed by radio-HPLC to reveal the new radioactive product described herein. Extracts of E. coli transformed with empty vector controls did not yield detectable product when assayed by identical methods.

[0086] FIGS. 10A-10B are graphs illustrating the combined reverse-phase HPLC-chemical ionization MS (mass spectrometry) analysis of the biosynthetic product (R_(t)=8.6±0.1 minutes) generated by recombinant acetyl transferase with 10-deaceylbaccatin III and acetyl CoA as co-substrates (FIG. 10A), and of authentic baccatin III (R_(t)=8.6±0.1 minutes) (FIG. 10B). The diagnostic mass spectral fragments are at m/z 605 (M+NH₄ ⁺), 587 (MH⁺), 572 (MH⁺—CH₃), 527 (MH⁺—CH₃COOH), and 509 (MH⁺—CH₃COOH—H₂O). For preparation of recombinant enzyme and product isolation, see FIG. 9 description.

[0087] FIGS. 11A-11B illustrate the progression of advanced metabolites in the Taxol® biosynthetic pathway (cf., FIG. 1). Shown in FIG. 11A are the acetylation of 10-deacetylbaccatin III to baccatin III by 10-deacetylbaccatin III O-acetyltransferase (a), the transfer of an aminophenylpropanoyl group to C-13 of baccatin III by an O-(3-amino-3-phenylpropanoyl)transferase (b), and the benzamidation and C-2′ hydroxylation of the side chain by N-debenzoyltaxol N-benzoyltransferase and a taxoid P450 hydroxylase (c). Shown in FIG. 11B are the synthesized phenylpropanoyl coenzyme A esters used for specificity analysis of the O-(3-amino-3-phenylpropanoyl)transferase.

[0088]FIG. 12 is an illustration of the semisynthesis of Taxol® from the natural product 10-deacetylbaccatin III and a synthetic β-lactam precursor of the N-benzoyl phenylisoserine side chain.

[0089] FIGS. 13A-13B illustrate radio-HPLC analysis after chemical N-benzoylation of the biosynthetic product (R_(t)=39.6±0.1 min) generated by the recombinant O-phenylpropanoyltransferase using [13-³H]baccatin III and β-phenylalanoyl-CoA as cosubstrates. The Upper trace (FIG. 13A) shows the radioactivity profile (in mV) and the Lower trace (FIG. 13B) shows the absorbance profile (A₂₅₄), both of which coincide exactly with the retention time of authentic (3′RS)-2′-deoxyltaxol.

[0090]FIG. 14 is a partial ¹H-NMR spectra (recorded in deuterated chloroform) of authentic (3′RS)-2′-deoxyltaxol (Upper) and of the biosynthetic product, after chemical N-benzoylation, derived by the recombinant O-phenylpropanoyltransferase (TAX7) with baccatin III and β-phenylalaninoyl-CoA as cosubstrates (Lower). The complete spectrum of the N-benzoylated biosynthetic product was identical to that of the 2′-deoxytaxol standard.

[0091] FIGS. 15A-15B are spectra illustrating the coupled reversed-phase HPLC APCI-MS analysis of the biosynthetic product (after chemical N-benzoylation) (R_(t)=20.8±0.1) generated by the recombinant phenylpropanoyltransferase with baccatin III and β-phenylalanoyl-CoA as co-substrates. The biosynthetic product demonstrated a retention time virtually identical to that of authentic (3′RS)-2′-deoxytaxol (FIG. 15A). Diagnostic ions are m/z 838 (PH⁺), 820 (PH⁺—H₂O), 778 (PH⁺—CH₃CO₂H), 760 (m/z 778-H₂O), 569 (PH^(+—PhCH(BzNH)CH) ₂CO₂H), 509 (m/z 569-CH₃CO₂H), and 270 (PhCH(BzNH)CH₂CO₂H) (FIG. 15B).

[0092]FIG. 16 illustrates a comparison, and the deduced sequence alignment, among several amino acid sequences: 3-amino-3-phenylpropanoyltransferase (BAPT, accession no. AY082804), taxadien-5α-ol O-acetyltransferase (TAT, accession no. AF190130), taxane 2α-O-benzoyltransferase (TBT, accession no. AF297618), 10-deacetylbaccatin III 10-O-acetyltransferase (DBAT, accession no. AF193765), and N-debenzoyltaxol N-benzoyltransferase (DBTNBT, accession no. AF466397). Columns with residues in black boxes indicate identical amino acids for at least three of the compared sequences, while columns with residues in gray boxes indicate similar amino acids for at least four of the compared sequences.

[0093]FIG. 17 is an illustration of part of the Taxol® biosynthetic pathway. Shown are the cyclization of geranylgeranyl diphosphate to taxadiene by taxadiene synthase and the hydroxylation to taxadien-5α-ol by taxadiene 5α-hydroxylase (a), the acetylation of taxadien-5α-ol by taxadien-5α-ol acetyltransferase (TAT) (b), the conversion of taxadien-5α-ol to 5,13-diol by a 13α-hydroxylase (c), the hydroxylation of taxadien-5α-yl acetate by a 10β-hydroxylase (d), the formation of a 2-benzoxy taxoid by a taxane 2α-O-benzoyltransferase (TBT) (e), the conversion of 10-deacetylbaccatin III to baccatin III by a 10-O-acetyltransferase (DBAT) (f), sidechain attachment by a 13-O-[3-amino-3-phenylpropanyl]transferase (g), and sidechain benzamidation by N-debenzoyltaxol N-benzoyltransferase (DBTNBT) and hydroxylation to form Taxol® (h).

[0094] FIGS. 18A-18B are spectra illustrating the radio-HPLC analysis of the biosynthetic product (retention time R_(t)=39.6±0.1 min) catalyzed by the recombinant N-benzoyltransferase using (3′RS)-N-debenzoyl-2′-deoxytaxol and [7-¹⁴C]benzoyl-CoA as cosubstrates. FIG. 1 8A shows the radioactivity profile (in mV) and FIG. 18B shows the UV profile (A₂₅₄), both of which coincide exactly with the retention time of authentic (3′RS)-2′-deoxytaxol.

[0095]FIG. 19 is a partial ¹H-NMR spectra (recorded in deuterochloroform) of authentic (3′RS)-2′-deoxyltaxol (Upper trace) and of the biosynthetic product derived by the recombinant N-benzoyltransferase (TAX10) with (3′RS)-N-debenzoyl-2′-deoxytaxol and benzoyl coenzyme-A as cosubstrates (Lower trace).

[0096]FIG. 20 is a graph illustrating the APCI-MS analysis of the biosynthetic product generated by the recombinant N-benzoyltransferase with (3′RS)-N-debenzoyl-2′-deoxytaxol and benzoyl coenzyme-A as cosubstrates. Diagnostic ions are at m/z 855 (P⁺+H₂O), 838 (PH⁺), 820 (PH⁺—H₂O), 778 (PH⁺—CH₃CO₂H), 760 (m/z 778-H₂O), 569 (PH⁺—PhCH(BzNH)CH₂CO₂H), 509 (m/z 569-CH₃CO₂H), and 270 (PhCH(BzNH)CH₂CO₂H+H⁺).

[0097] FIGS. 21A-21B illustrate a comparison, and the deduced sequence alignment, among several amino acid sequences: DBTNBT (accession no. AF466397), anthranilate N-hydroxycinnamoyl/benzoyltransferase (PCHCBT, accession no. Z84383), taxane 2α-O-benzoyltransferase (TBT, accession no. AF297618), 10-deacetylbaccatin III 10-O-acetyltransferase (DBAT, accession no. AF193765), taxadien-5α-ol O-acetyltransferase (TAT, accession no. AF190130), deacetylvindoline 4-O-acetyltransferase (DAT, accession no. AF053307), benzyl alcohol acetyltransferase (BEAT, accession no. AF043464), and salutaridinol 7-O-acetyltransferase (SALAT, accession no. AF339913). Columns with residues in black boxes indicate identical amino acids for at least four of the compared sequences while columns containing at least four similar amino acids are indicated by gray shading.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0098] Abbreviations

[0099] aa=amino acid

[0100] BEAT=benzyl alcohol acetyltransferase

[0101] bp=base pair

[0102] cDNA=copy DNA

[0103] Da=Dalton

[0104] DAT=deacetylvindoline 4-O-acetyltransferase

[0105] DBAT=10-deacetylbaccatin III 10-O-acetyltransferase

[0106] DBTNBT=and N-debenzoyltaxol N-benzoyltransferase

[0107] ELISA=enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

[0108] HPLC high-performance liquid chromatography

[0109] kbp=kilo-base pair

[0110] kDa=kilo-Dalton

[0111] nt=nucleotide

[0112] orf=open reading frame

[0113] PAGE=polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

[0114] PCHCBT=anthranilate N-hydroxycinnamoyl/benzoyltransferase

[0115] PCR=polymerase chain reaction

[0116] RT=reverse transcription

[0117] RT-PCR=reverse transcriptase PCR

[0118] SALAT=salutaridinol 7-O-acetyltransferase

[0119] SDS-PAGE=sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis

[0120] TAT=taxadien-5α-ol O-acetyltransferase

[0121] TBT=taxane 2α-O-benzoyltransferase

[0122] Explanations of Terms

[0123] Unless otherwise noted, technical terms are used according to conventional usage. Definitions of common terms in molecular biology and biochemistry can be found in Lewin, Genes VII (Oxford University Press, 1999); Kendrew et al. (eds.), The Encyclopedia of Molecular Biology (Blackwell Science Ltd., 1994); Robert A. Meyers (ed.), Molecular Biology and Biotechnology: a Comprehensive Desk Reference (VCH Publishers, Inc., 1995); and Nelson and Cox, Lehninger: Principles of Biochemistry, 3^(rd) Ed. (Worth Publishing, 2000).

[0124] The singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” refer to one or more than one, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, the term “comprising a nucleic acid” includes single or plural nucleic acids and is considered equivalent to the phrase “comprising at least one nucleic acid.”

[0125] The term “or” refers to a single element of stated alternative elements or a combination of two or more elements. For example, the phrase “a first nucleic acid or a second nucleic acid” refers to the first nucleic acid, the second nucleic acid, or both the first and second nucleic acids.

[0126] As used herein, “comprises” means “includes.” Thus, “comprising A and B” means “including A and B,” without excluding additional elements.

[0127] Amplification: Regarding a nucleic acid molecule (such as a DNA or RNA molecule), amplification refers to use of a technique that increases the number of copies of a nucleic acid molecule in a specimen. An example of amplification is the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), in which a biological sample collected from a subject is contacted with a pair of oligonucleotide primers under conditions that allow for the hybridization of the primers to nucleic acid template in the sample. The primers are extended under suitable conditions, dissociated from the template, and then re-annealed, extended, and dissociated to amplify the number of copies of the nucleic acid. The product of amplification can be characterized by electrophoresis, restriction endonuclease cleavage patterns, oligonucleotide hybridization or ligation, and/or nucleic acid sequencing using standard techniques. Other examples of amplification include strand displacement amplification, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,744,311; transcription-free isothermal amplification, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,033,881; repair chain reaction amplification, as disclosed in WO 90/01069; ligase chain reaction amplification, as disclosed in EP-A-320 308; gap filling ligase chain reaction amplification, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,427,930; and NASBA™ RNA transcription-free amplification, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,025,134.

[0128] Antisense: The natural mechanism for producing proteins in living cells starts with the DNA being transcribed into RNA. The resulting RNA molecule is then translated into a protein. This chain of events (DNA→RNA→Protein) allows for the regulation of the protein at three different levels. At the first level of regulation the DNA can be targeted. This is done such that the process of making the RNA is inhibited. For example, a small circular oligonucleotide molecule can be placed in contact with the DNA thus inhibiting and/or altering transcription (Wolf, Nature Biotechnology 16:341-344, 1998). At the next level the transcription of the RNA can be inhibited. This can be done through the use of complementary polynucleotide sequences that bind to the target RNA molecule. In some instances, these polynucleotide molecules can be designed so that they are catalytic. In other words, they can be designed so that they can bind to a first target RNA, cleave it, and then move on to cleave a second RNA. Finally, at the third level, the protein itself can be regulated through the use of antibodies and other therapeutic molecules.

[0129] The use of complementary polynucleotide sequences is referred to as antisense technology. Therefore, these polynucleotide molecules are commonly called antisense molecules, and these antisense molecules can be designed and produced in many different ways using the same techniques for cloning, producing, or synthesizing a nucleic acid molecule.

[0130] cDNA (complementary DNA): A “cDNA” is a piece of DNA lacking internal, non-coding segments (introns) and regulatory sequences that determine transcription. cDNA can be synthesized in the laboratory, such as by reverse transcription from messenger RNA extracted from cells.

[0131] DNA construct: The term “DNA construct” is intended to indicate any nucleic acid molecule of cDNA, genomic DNA, synthetic DNA, or RNA origin. The term “construct” is intended to indicate a nucleic acid segment that is either single- or double-stranded, and that can be based on a complete or partial naturally occurring nucleotide sequence encoding one or more of the transacylase nucleic acids disclosed herein. It is understood that such nucleotide sequences include intentionally manipulated nucleotide sequences, e.g., subjected to site-directed mutagenesis, and sequences that are degenerate as a result of the genetic code. All degenerate nucleotide sequences are included, so long as the transacylase encoded by the nucleotide sequence maintains transacylase activity.

[0132] Expression control sequence. A nucleic acid sequence that affects, modifies, or influences expression of a second nucleic acid sequence. Promoters, operators, repressors, and enhancers are examples of expression control sequences. In some embodiments, the expression control sequence is a promoter, such as a cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter.

[0133] Homologs: “Homologs” are two nucleotide sequences that share a common ancestral sequence and diverged when a species carrying that ancestral sequence split into two species.

[0134] Isolated: An “isolated” biological component (such as a nucleic acid, protein, metabolite, organic compound, or organelle) is a component that has been substantially separated or purified away from other biological components in the cell of the organism in which the component naturally occurs, i.e., other chromosomal and extra-chromosomal DNA, RNA, proteins, metabolite, organic compounds, and organelles. Nucleic acids and proteins that have been “isolated” include nucleic acids and proteins purified by standard purification methods. The term also embraces nucleic acids and proteins prepared by recombinant expression in a host cell, as well as chemically synthesized nucleic acids.

[0135] Mammal: This term includes both human and non-human mammals. Similarly, the term “patient” includes both humans and veterinary subjects.

[0136] Nucleic acid. A deoxyribonucleotide or ribonucleotide polymer in either single or double stranded form. Unless otherwise limited, this term encompasses known analogues of natural nucleotides that hybridize to nucleic acids in a manner similar to naturally occurring nucleotides. An “oligonucleotide” (or “oligo”) is a linear nucleic acid of up to about 250 nucleotide bases in length. For example, a nucleic acid (such as DNA or RNA) can be at least 5 nucleotides long, such as at least 15, 50, 100, 200, or even more than 500 nucleotides long, such as more than 900, 1000, or 1200 nucleotides long, or even longer. In particular embodiments, however, the nucleic acid has a length of about 1500 nucleotides or less.

[0137] ORF (open reading frame): An “ORF” is a series of nucleotide triplets (codons) coding for amino acids without any internal termination codons. These sequences are usually translatable into respective polypeptides.

[0138] Operably linked: A first nucleic acid sequence is “operably linked” with a second nucleic acid sequence whenever the first nucleic acid sequence is placed in a functional relationship with the second nucleic acid sequence. For instance, a promoter is operably linked to a coding sequence if the promoter affects the transcription or expression of the coding sequence. Operably linked DNA sequences can be contiguous and, where necessary to join two protein-coding regions, in the same reading frame.

[0139] Orthologs: An “ortholog” is a nucleic acid that encodes a protein that displays a function that is similar to a nucleic acid derived from a different species (i.e., are likely to be homologous).

[0140] Probes and primers: Nucleic acid probes and primers can be prepared readily based on the amino acid sequences and nucleic acid sequences disclosed herein. A “probe” comprises an isolated nucleic acid attached to a detectable label or reporter molecule. Typical labels include radioactive isotopes, ligands, chemiluminescent agents, and enzymes. Methods for labeling and guidance in the choice of labels appropriate for various purposes are discussed in, e.g., Sambrook et al., Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press, Cold Spring Harbor, N.Y., 2001), and Ausubel et al. (eds.) Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, Greene Publishing and Wiley-Interscience, New York (with periodic updates), 1987.

[0141] “Primers” are short nucleic acids, such as DNA oligonucleotides of 10 nucleotides or more in length. A primer can be annealed to a complementary target DNA strand by nucleic acid hybridization to form a hybrid between the primer and the target DNA strand, and then extended along the target DNA strand by a DNA polymerase enzyme. Primer pairs can be used for amplification of a nucleic acid sequence, e.g., by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), or other nucleic-acid amplification methods known in the art.

[0142] Methods for preparing and using probes and primers are described, for example, in references such as Innis, et al., PCR Applications: Protocols for Functional Genomics, Academic Press, San Diego, 1999; Sambrook et al., 2001; and Ausubel et al., 1987. PCR primer pairs can be derived from a known sequence, for example, by using computer programs intended for that purpose such as Primer3 (Version 0.6, © 1998, Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research, Cambridge, Mass.). The specificity of a particular probe or primer increases with the length of the probe or primer. Thus, for example, a primer comprising 20 consecutive nucleotides will anneal to a target with a higher specificity than a corresponding primer of only 15 nucleotides. Thus, in order to obtain greater specificity, probes and primers can be selected that comprise, for example, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 50 or more consecutive nucleotides.

[0143] Promoter. A promoter is one type of expression control sequence composed from an array of nucleic acid sequences that directs transcription of a nucleic acid. A promoter includes necessary nucleic acid sequences near the start site of transcription, such as a TATA element. A promoter also can include distal enhancer or repressor elements that can be located as much as several thousand base pairs from the start site of transcription.

[0144] An inducible promoter directs transcription of a nucleic acid operably linked to it only under certain environmental conditions, such as in the presence of metal ions or above a certain temperature. A constitutive promoter directs transcription of a nucleic acid operably linked to it in a substantially constant manner.

[0145] Purified: The term “purified” does not require absolute purity; rather, it is intended as a relative term. Thus, for example, a purified enzyme, nucleic acid, or organic compound preparation is one in which the subject protein, nucleotide, or compound is at a higher relative concentration than the protein, nucleotide or compound would be in its natural environment within an organism. For example, a preparation of an enzyme can be considered as purified if the enzyme content in the preparation represents at least 50% of the total protein content of the preparation.

[0146] Recombinant: A “recombinant” nucleic acid is one having a sequence that is not naturally occurring in the organism in which it is expressed, or has a sequence made by an artificial combination of two otherwise separated sequences. This artificial combination is often accomplished by chemical synthesis or, more commonly, by the artificial manipulation of isolated segments of nucleic acids, e.g., by genetic engineering techniques. “Recombinant” is also used to describe nucleic acid molecules that have been artificially manipulated, but contain the same control sequences and coding regions that are found in the organism from which the nucleic acid was isolated.

[0147] Specific binding agent: A “specific binding agent” is an agent that is capable of specifically binding to the transacylases disclosed herein, and can include polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies (including humanized monoclonal antibodies) and fragments of monoclonal antibodies such as Fab, F(ab′)2 and Fv fragments, as well as any other agent capable of specifically binding to the epitopes on the proteins.

[0148] Sequence identity: The similarity between two nucleic acid sequences or between two amino acid sequences can be expressed in terms of the level of sequence identity shared between the sequences. Sequence identity is typically expressed in terms of percentage identity; the higher the percentage, the more similar the two sequences.

[0149] Methods for aligning sequences, including various programs and alignment algorithms, are known. See, e.g., Smith & Waterman, Adv. Appl. Math. 2:482, 1981; Needleman & Wunsch, J. Mol. Biol. 48:443, 1970; Pearson & Lipman, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 85:2444, 1988; Higgins & Sharp, Gene 73:237-244, 1988; Higgins & Sharp, CABIOS 5:151-153, 1989; Corpet et al., Nucleic Acids Research 16:10881-10890, 1988; Huang, et al., CABIOS 8:155-165, 1992; and Pearson et al., Methods in Molecular Biology 24:307-331, 1994. Altschul et al., J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410, 1990, presents a detailed consideration of sequence alignment methods and homology calculations.

[0150] The National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Basic Local Alignment Search Tool (BLAST™, Altschul et al.. J. Mol. Biol. 215:403-410, 1990) is available from several sources, including the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI, Bethesda, Md.) and can be used with the sequence-analysis programs blastp, blastn, blastx, tblastn and tblastx. BLAST™ can be accessed on the Internet at the NCBI website.

[0151] For comparisons of amino acid sequences of greater than about 30 amino acids, the “Blast 2 sequences” function of the BLAST™ program is employed using the default BLOSUM62 matrix set to default parameters, (gap existence cost of 11, and a per residue gap cost of 1). When aligning short peptides (fewer than around 30 amino acids), the alignment should be performed using the Blast 2 sequences function, employing the PAM30 matrix set to default parameters (open gap 9, extension gap 1 penalties). Proteins with even greater similarity to the reference sequences will show increasing percentage identities when assessed by this method, such as at least about 45%, at least about 50%, at least about 60%, at least about 80%, at least about 85%, at least about 90%, or at least about 95% sequence identity.

[0152] Substantial similarity: A first nucleic acid is “substantially similar” to a second nucleic acid if, when optimally aligned (with appropriate nucleotide deletions or gap insertions) with the other nucleic acid (or its complementary strand), there is nucleotide sequence identity in at least about, for example, 50%, 75%, 80%, 85%, 90% or 95% of the nucleotide bases. Sequence similarity can be determined by comparing the nucleotide sequences of two nucleic acids using the BLAST™ sequence analysis software (blastn) available from The National Center for Biotechnology Information. Such comparisons can be made using the software set to default settings (expect=10, filter=default, descriptions=500 pairwise, alignments=500, alignment view=standard, gap existence cost=11, per residue existence=1, per residue gap cost=0.85). Similarly, a first polypeptide is substantially similar to a second polypeptide if they show sequence identity of at least about 75% to about 90% or greater when optimally aligned and compared using BLAST software (blastp) using default settings.

[0153] Taxoid: A “taxoid” is a chemical based on the Taxane ring structure, for example, as described in Kinston et al., Progress in the Chemistry of Organic Natural Products, Springer-Verlag, 1993.

[0154] Transacylase activity: Enzymes exhibiting transacylase activity are capable of transferring acyl groups, thus forming either esters or amides, by catalyzing reactions in which an acyl group that is linked to a carrier (acyl-carrier) is transferred to a reactant, thus forming an acyl group linked to the reactant (acyl-reactant).

[0155] Transacylases: Transacylases are enzymes that display transacylase activity. However, all transacylases do not recognize the same carriers and reactants. Therefore, transacylase enzyme-activity assays must utilize different substrates and reactants depending on the specificity of the particular transacylase enzyme. The assay described herein is a representative example of a transacylase activity assay, and similar assays can be used to test transacylase activity directed towards different substrates and reactants. Transacylases also are known by the name “acyltransferases.”

[0156] Transacylase nucleic acid: A nucleic acid encoding a polypeptide demonstrating transacylase activity.

[0157] Transformed: A “transformed” cell is a cell into which a nucleic acid molecule has been introduced by molecular biology techniques. As used herein, the term “transformation” encompasses all techniques by which a nucleic acid molecule might be introduced into such a cell, including transfection with a viral vector, transformation with a plasmid vector, and introduction of naked DNA by electroporation, lipofection, and particle gun acceleration. A “transformant” is an organism or microorganism that has been transformed.

[0158] Transgene. An exogenous nucleic acid supplied by a vector.

[0159] Transgenic. Of, pertaining to, or containing a nucleic acid, ORF, or other nucleic acid native to another species, microorganism, or virus. The term “transgenic” includes transient and permanent transformation, where the nucleic acid integrates into chromosomal DNA, including the germ line, or is maintained extrachromosomally. For example, and without limitation, plants transformed with a plasmid encoding transacylase disclosed herein (such the transacylases encoded by the TAX7 and TAX10 nucleic acids (SEQ ID NOS: 51 and 53)) maintained extrachromosomally are understood to be transgenic.

[0160] Vector: A “vector” is a nucleic acid molecule as introduced into a host cell, thereby producing a transformed host cell. A vector can include nucleic acid sequences, such as an origin of replication, that permit the vector to replicate in a host cell. A vector also can include one or more screenable markers, selectable markers, reporter genes, or other genetic elements.

[0161] Transacylase Protein and Nucleic acid Sequences

[0162] Transacylases and transacylase-specific nucleic acid sequences are disclosed, including utilizing the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to identify and produce nucleic acid sequences encoding the transacylases. For example, PCR amplification of the transacylase sequences can be accomplished either by direct PCR from a plant cDNA library or by Reverse Transcriptase PCR (RT-PCR) using RNA extracted from plant cells as a template. Transacylase sequences can be amplified from plant genomic libraries, or plant genomic DNA. Methods and conditions for both direct PCR and RT-PCR are disclosed in, for example, Innis et al., 1999.

[0163] The selection of PCR primers is made according to the portions of the cDNA or other nucleic acid that are to be amplified. Primers can be chosen to amplify small segments of the cDNA, the open reading frame, the entire cDNA molecule, or the entire nucleic acid sequence. Variations in amplification conditions can be required to accomodate primers of differing lengths; such considerations are discussed, for example, in Innis et al., 1999; Sambrook et al., 2001; and Ausubel et al., 1987. By way of example (and without limitation), the cDNA molecules corresponding to additional transacylases can be amplified using primers directed towards regions of homology between the 5′ and 3′ ends of the TAX1 (SEQ ID NO: 27) and TAX2 (SEQ ID NO: 25) sequences. Examplary primers for such a reaction are: (SEQ ID NO:42) primer 1: 5′ CCT CAT CTT TCC CCC ATT GAT AAT 3′ (SEQ ID NO:43) primer 2: 5′ AAA AAG AAA ATA ATT TTG CCA TGC AAG 3′

[0164] These primers are illustrative only and many different primers can be derived from the disclosed nucleic acid sequences. Re-sequencing of PCR products obtained by these amplification procedures can be used to facilitate confirmation of the amplified sequence and to provide information on natural variation between transacylase sequences. Oligonucleotides derived from the transacylase sequence can be used in such sequencing methods.

[0165] Oligonucleotides that are derived from the transacylase sequences are also encompassed within the scope of this disclosure. Such oligonucleotide primers comprise a sequence of at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of a transacylase sequence. In some embodiments, enhanced amplification specificity is provided by utilizing oligonucleotide primers comprising at least 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45 or 50 consecutive nucleotides of these sequences.

[0166] Transacylases in other Plant Species

[0167] Orthologs of the transacylase genes are present in a number of other members of the Taxus genus. With the provision herein of the transacylase nucleic acid sequences, these orthologs encoding transacylases can be cloned from Taxus and other plant species. Orthologs of the disclosed transacylase genes have biological transacylase activity and are typically characterized by possession of at least 50% sequence identity counted over the fall length alignment with the amino acid sequence of the disclosed transacylase sequences using the NCBI Blast 2.0 (gapped blastp set to default parameters). Proteins with even greater similarity to the reference sequences will show increasing percentage identities when assessed by this method, such as at least 60%, at least 65%, at least 70%, at least 75%, at least 80%, at least 90%, or at least 95% sequence identity.

[0168] Both conventional hybridization and PCR amplification procedures can be utilized to clone sequences encoding transacylase orthologs. Common to both of these techniques is the hybridization of probes or primers that are derived from the transacylase nucleic acid sequences. Furthermore, the hybridization can occur in the context of Northern blots, Southern blots, or PCR.

[0169] Direct PCR amplification can be performed on cDNA or genomic libraries prepared from any of various plant species, or RT-PCR can be performed using mRNA extracted from plant cells of such species using standard methods. In particular embodiments, the PCR primers comprise at least 10 consecutive nucleotides of the transacylase sequences. Sequence differences between the transacylase nucleic acid sequence and the target nucleic acid to be amplified can result in lower amplification efficiencies. To compensate for this, longer PCR primers or lower annealing temperatures can be used during the amplification cycle. Where lower annealing temperatures are used, sequential rounds of amplification using nested primer pairs can enhance specificity.

[0170] A hybridization probe can be conjugated with a detectable label, such as a radioactive label. In some enbodiments, the hybridization probe is at least 10 nucleotides in length. Increasing the length of hybridization probes can enhance specificity. A labeled probe derived from the transacylase nucleic acid sequence can be hybridized to a plant cDNA or genomic library, and the hybridization signal then can be detected. The hybridizing colony or plaque (depending on the type of library used) then can be purified and the cloned sequence contained in that colony or plaque can be isolated and characterized.

[0171] Orthologs of the transacylases alternatively can be obtained by immunoscreening of an expression library. With the provision herein of the disclosed transacylase nucleic acid sequences, the enzymes can be expressed and purified in a heterologous expression system (e.g., E. coli) and used to raise antibodies (monoclonal or polyclonal) specific for transacylases. Antibodies also can be raised against synthetic peptides derived from the transacylase amino acid sequence described herein. Methods of raising antibodies are described in, for example, Harlow, Using Antibodies : A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring, N.Y., 1998; and Harlow and Lane, Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, Cold Spring, N.Y. 1988. Such antibodies then can be used to screen an expression cDNA library produced from a plant. This screening can identify the transacylase ortholog. The selected cDNAs can be confirmed by sequencing and by expressed enzyme activity assays.

[0172] Taxol® Transacylase Variants

[0173] Variants of the transacylase amino acid sequences (SEQ ID NOs: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 45, 50, 52, 54, 56, and 58) and the corresponding cDNAs (SEQ ID NOs: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 44, 49, 51, 53, 55, and 57) can be created.

[0174] Variant transacylases include proteins that differ in amino acid sequence from the transacylase sequences disclosed, but that retain biological transacylase activity. Manipulating the nucleotide sequence encoding the transacylase using standard procedures, such as site-directed mutagenesis or PCR, can produce such proteins. Simple modifications include the substitution of one or more amino acids for amino acids having similar biochemical properties. These so-called “conservative substitutions” are likely to have minimal impact on the activity of the resultant protein. Table 1 shows amino acids that can be substituted for an original amino acid in a protein and that are regarded as conservative substitutions. TABLE 1 Original Conservative Residue Substitutions ala ser arg lys asn gln; his asp glu cys ser gln asn glu asp gly pro his asn; gln ile leu; val leu ile; val lys arg; gln; glu met leu; ile phe met; leu; tyr ser thr thr ser trp tyr tyr trp; phe val ile; leu

[0175] More substantial changes in enzymatic function or other features can be obtained by selecting substitutions that are less conservative than those in Table 1, i.e., selecting residues that differ more significantly in their effect on maintaining: (a) the structure of the polypeptide backbone in the area of the substitution, for example, as a sheet or helical conformation; (b) the charge or hydrophobicity of the molecule at the target site; or (c) the bulk of the side chain. The substitutions likely produce the greatest changes in protein properties will be those in which: (a) a hydrophilic residue, for example, seryl or threonyl, is substituted for (or by) a hydrophobic residue, for example, leucyl, isoleucyl, phenylalanyl, valyl or alanyl; (b) a cysteine or proline is substituted for (or by) any other residue; (c) a residue having an electropositive side chain, for example, lysyl, arginyl, or histidyl, is substituted for (or by) an electronegative residue, for example, glutamyl or aspartyl; or (d) a residue having a bulky side chain, for example, phenylalanine, is substituted for (or by) one not having a side chain, for example, glycine. The effects of these amino acid substitutions, deletions, or additions on transacylase derivatives can be assayed, for example, by analyzing the ability of the derivative proteins to catalyse the conversion of one Taxol® precursor or taxoid to another Taxol® precursor or taxoid.

[0176] Variant transacylase cDNAs (or nucleic acid sequences) can be produced by standard DNA mutagenesis techniques, for example, M13 primer mutagenesis. Details of such exemplary techniques are provided in Sambrook et al., 2001. By the use of such techniques, variants can be created that differ in minor ways from the transacylase cDNA or other nucliec acid sequences, yet that still encode a protein having biological transacylase activity. Nucleotide sequences that are derivatives of those disclosed herein and that differ from those disclosed nucleotide sequences by the deletion, addition, or substitution of nucleotides while still encoding a protein having biological transacylase activity are disclosed herein. For example, such variants can differ from the disclosed sequences by altering of the coding region to fit the codon usage bias of the particular organism into which the molecule is to be introduced.

[0177] Alternatively, the coding region can be altered by taking advantage of the degeneracy of the genetic code to alter the coding sequence in such a way that, while the nucleotide sequence is substantially altered, it nevertheless encodes a protein having an amino acid sequence identical or substantially similar to the disclosed transacylase amino acid sequences. For example, the fifteenth amino acid residue of the TAX2 (SEQ ID NO: 26) is alanine. This amino acid is encoded in the open reading frame (ORF) by the nucleotide codon triplet GCG. Because of the degeneracy of the genetic code, three other nucleotide codon triplets—GCA, GCC, and GCT—also code for alanine. Thus, the nucleotide sequence of the ORF can be changed at this position to any of these three codons without affecting the amino acid composition of the encoded protein or the characteristics of the protein. Based upon the degeneracy of the genetic code, variant DNA molecules can be derived from the cDNA and other nucleotide sequences disclosed herein, such as by using DNA mutagenesis techniques or by synthesis of DNA sequences. Thus, some embodiments include nucleic acid sequences that encode the transacylase protein but that vary from the disclosed nucleic acid sequences by virtue of the degeneracy of the genetic code.

[0178] Variants of the transacylase also can be defined in terms of their sequence identity with the disclosed transacylase amino acid and nucleic acid sequences. However, transacylases possessing biological transacylase activity share at least 60% sequence identity with the disclosed transacylase sequences. Nucleic acid sequences that encode such proteins can be readily determined by applying the genetic code to the amino acid sequence of the transacylase, and such nucleic acid molecules can be produced by assembling oligonucleotides corresponding to portions of the sequence.

[0179] Variants of the transacylases also can be identified by nucleic acid hybridization. Nucleic acid molecules that are derived from the transacylase cDNA and nucleic acid sequences include molecules that hybridize under various conditions to the disclosed Taxol® transacylase nucleic acid molecules, or fragments thereof. Generally, hybridization conditions are classified into categories, such as very high stringency, high stringency, and low stringency. The conditions for probes that are about 600 base pairs or more in length are provided below in three corresponding categories. Very High Stringency (detects sequences that share 90% sequence identity) Hybridization in 5x SSC at 65° C. 16 hours Wash twice in 2x SSC at room temp. 15 minutes each Wash twice in 2x SSC at 55° C. 20 minutes each

[0180] High Stringency (detects sequences that share 80% sequence identity or greater) Hybridization in 5x SSC at 65° C. 16 hours Wash twice in 2x SSC at room temp. 20 minutes each Wash once in 2x SSC at 42° C. 30 minutes each

[0181] Low Stringency (detects sequences that share greater than 50% sequence identity) Hybridization in 6x SSC at room temp. 16 hours Wash twice in 2x SSC at room temp. 20 minutes each (20-21° C.)

[0182] The sequences encoding the transacylases identified through hybridization also can incorporated into transformation vectors and introduced into host cells to produce a transacylase.

[0183] Introduction of a Transacylase into a Plant

[0184] After a cDNA or other nucleic acid encoding a protein involved in the determination of a particular plant characteristic has been isolated, that nucleic acid can be introduced into and expressed in a transgenic plant in order to modify that particular plant characteristic. The basic approach is to clone a cDNA encoding a transacylase into a transformation vector, such that the cDNA is operably linked to control sequences (for example, a promoter) directing expression of the cDNA in plant cells. The transformation vector is then introduced into plant cells (for example, by electroporation) and progeny plants containing the introduced cDNA are selected. All or part of the transformation vector can stably integrate into the genome of the plant cell. That part of the transformation vector that integrates into the plant cell and that contains the introduced nucleic acid, and associated sequences for controlling expression (the introduced “transgene”), can be referred to as the recombinant expression cassette.

[0185] Selection of progeny plants containing the introduced transgene (within the recombinant expresion cassette) can be made based upon detection of an altered phenotype. Such a phenotype can result directly from the oligomeric nucleic acid cloned into the transformation vector or can be manifested as enhanced resistance to a chemical agent (such as an antibiotic) as a result of the inclusion of a dominant selectable marker nucleic acid incorporated into the transformation vector.

[0186] Successful examples of the modification of plant characteristics by transformation with cloned nucleic acids are replete in the technical and scientific literature. Selected examples, which serve to illustrate transformation of plants, include:

[0187] U.S. Pat. No. 5,571,706 (“Plant Virus Resistance Gene and Methods”)

[0188] U.S. Pat. No. 5,677,175 (“Plant Pathogen Induced Proteins”)

[0189] U.S. Pat. No. 5,510,471 (“Chimeric Gene for the Transformation of Plants”)

[0190] U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,386 (“Pathogen-Resistant Transgenic Plants”)

[0191] U.S. Pat. No. 5,597,945 (“Plants Genetically Enhanced for Disease Resistance”)

[0192] U.S. Pat. No. 5,589,615 (“Process for the Production of Transgenic Plants with Increased Nutritional Value Via the Expression of Modified 2S Storage Albumins”)

[0193] U.S. Pat. No. 5,750,871 (“Transformation and Foreign Gene Expression in Brassica Species”)

[0194] U.S. Pat. No. 5,268,526 (“Overexpression of Phytochrome in Transgenic Plants”)

[0195] U.S. Pat. No. 5,262,316 (“Genetically Transformed Pepper Plants and Methods for their Production”)

[0196] U.S. Pat. No. 5,569,831 (“Transgenic Tomato Plants with Altered Polygalacturonase Isoforms”)

[0197] These exemplary references include descriptions of transformation vector selection, transformation techniques, and the assembly of constructs designed to over-express the introduced nucleic acid sequence. Thus, nucleic acids and polypeptides, or homologous or derivative forms of these molecules, can be introduced into plants in order to produce plants having enhanced transacylase activity. For example, the expression of one or more transacylases in plants can give rise to plants having increased production of Taxol® and related compounds.

[0198] Vector Construction, Choice of Promoters

[0199] A number of recombinant vectors suitable for stable transfection of plant cells or for the establishment of transgenic plants are described in, for example, Weissbach and Weissbach, Methods for Plant Molecular Biology, Academic Press, 1989; and Gelvin et al., Plant and Molecular Biology Manual, Kluwer Academic Publishers, 1990. Typically, plant-transformation vectors include one or more cloned nucleic acids (for example, cDNA) under the transcriptional control of 5′- and 3′-regulatory sequences and a dominant selectable marker. Such plant transformation vectors also can contain a promoter regulatory region (for example, a regulatory region controlling inducible or constitutive, environmentally or developmentally regulated, or cell- or tissue-specific expression), a transcription initiation start site, a ribosome binding site, an RNA processing signal, a transcription termination site, and/or a polyadenylation signal.

[0200] Examples of constitutive plant promoters useful for expressing a nucleic acid include (but are not limited to): the cauliflower mosaic virus (CaMV) 35S promoter, which confers constitutive, high-level expression in most plant tissues (see, e.g., Odel et al., Nature 313:810, 1985; Dekeyser et al., Plant Cell 2:591, 1990; Terada and Shimamoto, Mol. Gen. Genet. 220:389, 1990; and Benfey and Chua, Science 250:959-966, 1990); the nopaline synthase promoter (An et al., Plant Physiol. 88:547, 1988); and the octopine synthase promoter (Fromm et al., Plant Cell 1:977, 1989). Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of Taxus species has been accomplished, and the resulting callus cultures have been shown to produce Taxol® (Han et al., Plant Science 95: 187-196, 1994). Therefore, incorporation of one or more of the disclosed transacylases under the influence of a strong promoter (such as CaMV promoter) increases production yields of Taxol® and related taxoids in such transformed cells.

[0201] A variety of plant promoters that are regulated in response to environmental, hormonal, chemical, and/or developmental signals also can be used for expression of the nucleic acids in plant cells, including promoters regulated by: (a) heat (Callis et al., Plant Physiol. 88:965, 1988; Ainley, et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 22:13-23, 1993; and Gilmartin et al., Plant Cell 4:839-949, 1992); (b) light (e.g., the pea rbcS-3A promoter, Kuhlemeier et al., Plant Cell 1:471, 1989, and the maize rbcS promoter, Schaffner and Sheen, Plant Cell 3:997, 1991); (c) hormones, such as abscisic acid (Marcotte et al., Plant Cell 1:969, 1989); (d) wounding (see, e.g., Siebertz et al., Plant Cell 1:961-68, 1989); and (e) chemicals such as methyl jasmonate or salicylic acid (Gatz et al., Ann. Rev. Plant PhysioL Plant Mol. Biol. 48:9-108, 1997).

[0202] Alternatively, tissue-specific (root, leaf, flower, and seed, for example) promoters can be fused to the coding sequence to obtain a particular expression in respective organs. (See, e.g., Carpenter et al., Plant Cell 4:557-571, 1992; Denis et al., Plant Physiol. 101:1295-1304, 1993; Opperman et al., Science 263:221-223, 1993; Stockhause et al., Plant Cell 9:479-489, 1997; Roshal et al., EMBO J. 6:1155, 1987; Schermthaner et al., EMBO J. 7:1249, 1988; and Bustos et al., Plant Cell 1:839, 1989).

[0203] Alternatively, native transacylase nucleic acid promoters, or fragments thereof, can be utilized. The determination of whether a particular region of a transacylase neucleotide sequence confers effective promoter activity can be ascertained, such as by operably linking the selected sequence region to a transacylase cDNA (in conjunction with suitable 3′ regulatory region, such as the NOS 3′ regulatory region as disclosed herein) and determining whether the transacylase is expressed.

[0204] Plant-transformation vectors also can include RNA-processing signals, for example, introns, that may be positioned upstream or downstream of the ORF sequence in the transgene. In addition, the expression vectors also can include additional regulatory sequences from the 3′-untranslated region of plant genes, for example, a 3′-terminator region to increase mRNA stability of the mRNA, such as the PI-II terminator region of potato or the octopine or nopaline synthase (NOS) 3′-terminator regions. The native transacylase nucleic acid 3′-regulatory sequence also can be employed.

[0205] Finally, plant-transformation vectors also can include dominant selectable markers to facilitate selection of transgenic plants. Such markers include those nucleic acids encoding antibiotic-resistance (for example, resistance to hygromycin, kanamycin, bleomycin, G418, streptomycin or spectinomycin) and herbicide-resistance (for example, phosphinothricin acetyltransacylase).

[0206] Arrangement of Taxol® Transacylase Sequence in a Vector

[0207] The particular arrangement of transacylase nucleotide sequence in the transformation vector is selected according to the type of expression of the sequence that is desired.

[0208] In some embodiments, enhanced transacylase activity is desired, and the transacylase ORF is operably linked to a constitutive high-level promoter, such as the CaMV 35S promoter. Enhanced transacylase activity also can be achieved by introducing into a plant a transformation vector containing a variant form of the transacylase nucleic acid, for example a form that varies from the exact nucleotide sequence of a transacylase ORF, but that encodes a protein retaining transacylase biological activity.

[0209] Transformation and Regeneration Techniques

[0210] Transformation and regeneration of both monocotyledonous and dicotyledonous plant cells are now routine, and the appropriate transformation technique can be determined by a practitioner. The choice of method can vary with the type of plant to be transformed. The suitability of particular methods for given plant types can be ascertained. Suitable methods include, but are not limited to: electroporation of plant protoplasts; liposome-mediated transformation; polyethylene glycol (PEG) mediated transformation; transformation using viruses; micro-injection of plant cells; micro-projectile bombardment of plant cells; vacuum infiltration; and Agrobacterium tumefaciens (AT) mediated transformation. Typical procedures for transforming and regenerating plants are described in the patent documents referenced above.

[0211] Selection of Transformed Plants

[0212] Following transformation and regeneration of plants (for example, plants within the Taxus genus) with the transformation vector, transformed plants can be selected using a dominant selectable marker incorporated into the transformation vector. For example, if the marker confers antibiotic resistance on the seedlings of transformed plants, selection of transformants can be accomplished by exposing the seedlings to appropriate concentrations of the antibiotic.

[0213] After transformed plants are selected and grown to maturity, they can be assayed to assess production levels of Taxol® and related compounds, such as (and without limitation), by using the assay methods described herein.

[0214] Production of Recombinant Taxol® Transacylase in Heterologous Expression Systems

[0215] Various yeast strains and yeast-derived vectors can be used for the expression of heterologous proteins, for example, the Pichia pastoris expression systems manufactured by the Invitrogen Corp. (Carlsbad, Calif.). Such systems include suitable Pichia pastoris strains, vectors, reagents, transformants, sequencing primers, and media. Available strains include KM71H (a prototrophic strain), SMD1168H (a prototrophic strain), and SMD1168 (a pep4 mutant strain) (Invitrogen Product Catalogue, 1998, Invitrogen Corp., Carlsbad Calif.).

[0216] Non-yeast eukaryotic vectors can be used with equal facility for expression of proteins encoded by the disclosed nucleic acids. Mammalian vector/host cell systems containing genetic and cellular control elements capable of carrying out transcription, translation, and post-translational modification can be utilized. Examples of such systems include, but are not limited to, the baculovirus system, the ecdysone-inducible expression system that uses regulatory elements from Drosophila melanogaster to allow control of nucleic acid expression, and the sindbis viral-expression system that allows high-level expression in a variety of mammalian cell lines, all of which are available from the Invitrogen Corp., Carlsbad, Calif.

[0217] The cloned expression vector encoding one or more transacylases can be transformed into any of various cell types for expression of the cloned nucleotide. Many different types of cells can be used to express modified nucleic acid molecules, including (but not limited to) the eukaryotic and prokaryotic cells described herein. Examples include cells of yeasts, fungi, bacteria, insects, mammals, and plants, including transformed and non-transformed cells. For instance, common mammalian cells that could be used include HeLa cells, SW-527 cells (ATCC deposit #7940), WISH cells (ATCC deposit #CCL-25), Daudi cells (ATCC deposit #CCL-213), Mandin-Darby bovine kidney cells (ATCC deposit #CCL-22) and Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells (ATCC deposit #CRL-2092). Common yeast cells include Pichia pastoris (ATCC deposit #201178) and Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ATCC deposit #46024). Bacterial cells include E. coli JM109 (ATCC deposit #53323). Insect cells include cells from Drosophila melanogaster (ATCC deposit #CRL-10191), the cotton bollworm (ATCC deposit #CRL-9281), and Trichoplusia ni egg cell homoflagellates. Fish cells that can be used include those from rainbow trout (ATCC deposit #CLL-55), salmon (ATCC deposit #CRL-1681), and zebrafish (ATCC deposit #CRL-2147). Amphibian cells that can be used include those of the bullfrog, Rana castebelana (ATCC deposit #CLL-41). Reptile cells that can be used include those from Russell's viper (ATCC deposit #CCL-140). Plant cells that could be used include Chlamydomonas cells (ATCC deposit #30485), Arabidopsis cells (ATCC deposit #54069) and tomato plant cells (ATCC deposit #54003). Many of these cell types are commonly used and are available from the American Type Culture Collection as well as from commercial suppliers, such as the Pharmacia Corp. (Uppsala, Sweden), and the Invitrogen Corp.

[0218] Expressed protein can be accumulated within a cell or can be secreted from the cell. Such expressed protein can then be collected and purified. This protein can then be characterized for activity and stability and utilized in different ways, such as being used to practice the methods diclosed herein.

[0219] Creation of Transacylase-Specific Binding Agents

[0220] Antibodies to transacylase proteins, and fragments thereof, can be used for purification of those proteins. Antibody-based binding agents to these proteins can be produced using the sequences discussed herein.

[0221] Monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies to antigens of the transacylases, portions of the transacylases, or variants thereof can be produced. Antibodies raised against epitopes on antigens can specifically detect the corresponding antigen. That is, antibodies raised against the transacylases selectively or specifically recognize and bind the transacylases, yet do not substantially recognize or bind to other proteins. The determination that an antibody binds to an antigen can be made by an immunoassay methods, for example, Western blotting or ELISA.

[0222] As just one non-limiting example, to determine that a given antibody preparation (such as a preparation produced in a mouse against TAX1) specifically detects the transacylase by Western blotting, total cellular protein is extracted from transfected cells, transformed cells, or from wild-type cells and electrophoresed on an SDS-polyacrylamide gel. The proteins are then transferred to a membrane (for example, nitrocellulose) by Western blotting, and the antibody preparation is incubated with the membrane. After washing the membrane to remove non-specifically bound antibodies, the presence of specifically bound antibodies is detected by the use of, for example, an anti-mouse antibody conjugated to an enzyme such as alkaline phosphatase; application of 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl phosphate/nitro blue tetrazolium results in the production of a densely blue-colored compound by immuno-localized alkaline phosphatase.

[0223] Antibodies that selectively or specifically recognize and bind to a transacylase can be shown to bind substantially only the transacylase band (having a position on the gel consistent with that of the molecular weight of the transacylase). Non-specific binding of the antibody to other proteins can occur and may be detectable as a weaker signal on the Western blot (which can be quantified by automated radiography). The non-specific nature of this binding can be assessed by the weak signal obtained on the Western blot relative to the strong primary signal arising from the specific anti-transacylase binding.

[0224] An agent, such as an antibody, that “selectively” binds to a particular target exhibits some preference for its target over other similar targets. Some antibodies (both monoclonal and polyclonal) can discriminate between closely related epitopes and also can distinguish between different antigens, if those antigens express epitopes that are not shared by other antigens. As one non-limiting example, an agent that binds transacylases from plants, but not transacylases obtained from mammals or bacteria, is an agent that selectively binds transacylases from plants. As another non-limiting example, an agent selectively binds to Taxus transacylases if that agent recognizes and binds to transacylases obtained from plants of the Taxus genus but does not recognize or bind to transacylases from other plants.

[0225] An agent that “specifically” binds to a particular target binds substantially only to a defined target. As used herein, a specific binding agent includes both monoclonal and polyclonal antibodies. As one non-limiting example, an agent that binds to a particular transacylase (such as the transacylase encoded by the TAX7 amino acid sequence (SEQ ID NO: 52)) but not to other transacylases (such as other Taxus transacylases) is an agent that specifically binds to that particular transacylase.

[0226] Antibodies that specifically bind to transacylases belong to a class of molecules that are referred to herein as “specific binding agents.” Specific binding agents that are capable of specifically binding to a transacylase can include polyclonal antibodies, monoclonal antibodies, and fragments of monoclonal antibodies such as Fab, F(ab′)₂ and Fv fragments, as well as any other agent capable of specifically binding to one or more epitopes on the transacylases.

[0227] Substantially pure transacylases suitable for use as an immunogen can be isolated from transfected cells, transformed cells, or from wild-type cells. Concentration of protein in the final preparation can be adjusted, for example, by concentration on an Amicon filter device, to the level of a few micrograms per milliliter. Alternatively, peptide fragments of a transacylase can be utilized as immunogens. Such fragments can be chemically synthesized, or can be obtained by cleavage of the transacylase polypeptide and purification of the desired peptide fragments. Peptides as short as three or four amino acids in length can be immunogenic when presented to an immune system in the context of a Major Histocompatibility Complex (MHC) molecule, such as MHC class I or MHC class II. Accordingly, peptides comprising at least 3, 4, 5, 6 or more consecutive amino acids of the disclosed transacylase amino acid sequences can be employed as immunogens for producing antibodies.

[0228] Some naturally occurring epitopes on proteins comprise amino acid residues that are not adjacently arranged in the peptide when the peptide sequence is viewed as a linear molecule. Therefore, some embodiments utilize longer peptide fragments from the transacylase amino acid sequences for producing antibodies. For example, peptides comprising at least 10, 15, 20, 25, or 30 consecutive amino acid residues of the amino acid sequence can be employed. Monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies to the intact transacylase, or peptide fragments thereof can be prepared as described herein.

[0229] Monoclonal Antibody Production by Hybridoma Fusion

[0230] A monoclonal antibody to any of the epitopes of the transacylase proteins described herein can be prepared such as by using murine hybridomas according to the classic method of Kohler & Milstein, Nature 256:495, 1975, or a similar method. Briefly, a mouse is *44 repetitively inoculated with a few micrograms of the selected protein over a period of a few weeks. The mouse is then sacrificed, and the antibody-producing cells of the spleen are isolated. The spleen cells are then fused by means of polyethylene glycol with mouse myeloma cells, and the excess unfused cells destroyed by growth of the system on selective media comprising aminopterin (HAT media). The successfully fused cells are diluted and aliquots of the dilution placed in wells of a microtiter plate where growth of the culture is continued. Antibody-producing clones are identified by detection of antibody in the supernatant fluid of the wells by immunoassay procedures, such as ELISA as originally described by Engvall, Enzymol. 70:419, 1980. Selected positive clones can be expanded and their monoclonal antibody product harvested for use. Detailed procedures for monoclonal antibody production are described in, for example, Harlow & Lane, Antibodies, A Laboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, N.Y., 1988.

[0231] Polyclonal Antibody Production by Immunization

[0232] Polyclonal antiserum containing antibodies to heterogenous epitopes of a single protein can be prepared by immunizing suitable animals with the expressed protein, which can be unmodified or modified to enhance immunogenicity. Effective polyclonal antibody production is affected by many factors related both to the antigen and the host species. For example, small molecules tend to be less immunogenic than other molecules and can require the use of carriers and an adjuvant. Also, host animals can vary in response to thesite of inoculation and dose; for example, both inadequate or excessive doses of antigen can result in low-titer antisera. Small doses (ng level) of antigen administered at multiple intradermal sites appear to be most reliable. An effective immunization protocol producing polyclonal antibodies for rabbits can be found in Vaitukaitis et al., J. Clin. Endocrinol. Metab. 33:988-991, 1971.

[0233] Booster injections can be given at regular intervals, and antiserum harvested when the antibody titer thereof, as determined semi-quantitatively, for example, by double immunodiffusion in agar against known concentrations of the antigen, begins to fall. See, for example, Ouchterlony et al., Handbook of Experimental Immunology, Wier, D. (ed.), Chapter 19, Blackwell, 1973. A plateau concentration of antibody can be in the range of 0.1 to 0.2 mg/mL of serum (about 12 μM). Affinity of the antisera for the antigen can be determined by preparing competitive binding curves using conventional methods.

[0234] Antibodies Raised by Injection of cDNA

[0235] Antibodies also can be raised against the disclosed transacylases by subcutaneous injection of a DNA vector that expresses the enzymes in laboratory animals, such as mice. Delivery of the recombinant vector into the animals can be achieved using a hand-held form of the Biolistic system (Sanford et al., Particulate Sci Technol. 5:27-37, 1987, as described by Tang et al., Nature (London) 356:153-154, 1992). Expression vectors suitable for this purpose can include those that express the cDNA of the enzyme under the transcriptional control of either the human β-actin promoter or the cytomegalovirus (CMV) promoter. Methods of administering naked DNA to animals in a manner resulting in expression of the DNA in the body of the animal include those described in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,620,896 (“DNA Vaccines Against Rotavirus Infections”); 5,643,578 (“Immunization by Inoculation of DNA Transcription Unit”); and 5,593,972 (“Genetic Immunization”), and references cited therein.

[0236] Antibody Fragments

[0237] Antibody fragments can be used in place of whole antibodies and can be readily expressed in prokaryotic host cells. Methods of making and using immunologically effective portions of monoclonal antibodies, also referred to as “antibody fragments,” include those described in Better & Horowitz, Methods Enzymol. 178:476-496, 1989; Glockshuber et al. Biochemistry 29:1362-1367, 1990; and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,648,237 (“Expression of Functional Antibody Fragments”); No. 4,946,778 (“Single Polypeptide Chain Binding Molecules”); and No. 5,455,030 (“Immunotherapy Using Single Chain Polypeptide Binding Molecules”), and references cited therein.

[0238] Taxol® Production in vivo

[0239] The creation of recombinant vectors and transgenic organisms expressing the vectors can be used to produce transacylases. These vectors can be used to decrease transacylase production, or to increase transacylase production. A decrease in transacylase production can result from the inclusion of an antisense sequence or a catalytic nucleic acid sequence that targets the transacylase encoding nucleic acid sequence. Conversely, increased production of transacylase can be achieved by including at least one additional transacylase encoding sequence in the vector. These vectors can then be introduced into a host cell, thereby altering transacylase production. In the case of increased production, the resulting transacylase can be used in in vitro systems, as well as in vivo for increased production of Taxol®, other taxoids, intermediates of the Taxol® biosynthetic pathway, and other products.

[0240] Increased production of Taxol® and related taxoids in vivo can be accomplished by transforming a host cell, such as one derived from a plant of the Taxus genus, with a vector containing one or more nucleic acid sequences encoding one or more transacylases. Furthermore, the heterologous or homologous transacylase sequences can be placed under the control of a constitutive promoter or an inducible promoter. Such transformation can lead to the increased production of transacylase, thus eliminating any rate-limiting effect on Taxol® production caused by the expression and/or activity level of the transacylase.

[0241] Taxol® Production in vitro

[0242] Currently, Taxol® is produced by a semisynthetic method described in Holton et al., Taxol ™: Science and Applications, CRC Press, Boca Raton, 97-121, 1995. This method involves extracting 10-deacetyl-baccatin III, or baccatin III, intermediates in the Taxol® biosynthetic pathway and then finishing the production of Taxol® using synthetic techniques. As more enzymes are identified in the Taxol® biosynthetic pathway, it may become possible to completely synthesize Taxol® in vitro, or at least increase the number of steps that can be performed in vitro. Hence, the transacylases disclosed herein can be used to facilitate the production of Taxol® and related taxoids in synthetic or semi-synthetic methods. Accordingly, transgenic organisms can produce increased levels of Taxol®, and can also produce increased levels of important intermediates in the Taxol® biosynthetic pathway, such as 10-deacetylbaccatin III, baccatin III, and β-phenylalanoyl baccatin III.

[0243] Other Transacylases of the Taxol® Pathway

[0244] The protocols described in Example 1 below yielded twelve related amplicons. Initial use of the first and second amplicons as probes for screening the cDNA library allowed for the isolation and characterization of taxadienol 5-O-acetyl transacylase. In addition to this first confirmed taxadienol 5-O-acetyl transacylase (TAX1), there are at least four additional transacylation steps in the Taxol® biosynthetic pathway represented by the 2-debenzoyl baccatin III-2-O-benzoyl transacylase, the 10-deacetylbaccatin III-10-O-acetyl transacylase, the baccatin III-13-O-phenylisoseryl transacylase, and the debenzoyltaxol-N-benzoyl transacylase. The close relationship between the nucleic acid sequences of the twelve amplicons indicates that the remaining amplicon sequences represent partial nucleic acid sequences of the other transacylases in the Taxol® pathway. Hence, the protocols described herein enable full-length versions of these Taxol® transacylases to be obtained. The following discussion relating to Taxol® transacylases refers to taxadienol 5-O-acetyl transacylase, as well as the remaining transacylases of the Taxol® pathway. Furthermore, transacylases can be tested for enzymatic activity using functional assays with the appropriate taxoid substrates, for example, the assay for taxoid C10 transacylase described in Menhard and Zenk, Phytochemistry 50:763-774, 1999.

EXAMPLES

[0245] The following examples are provided to illustrate particular features of certain embodiments, but the scope of the claims should not be limited to those features exemplified.

Example 1 Characterization of acetyl CoA:taxa-4(20),11(12)-dien-5α-ol O-acetyl transacylase

[0246] Enzyme Purification and Library Construction

[0247] Biochemical studies have indicated that the third specific intermediate of the Taxol® biosynthesis pathway is taxa-4(20),11(12)-dien-5α-yl acetate, because this metabolite serves as a precursor of a series of polyhydroxy taxanes en route to the end-product (Hezari and Croteau, Planta Medica 63:291-295, 1997). The responsible enzyme, taxadienol acetyl transacylase, that converts taxadienol to the C5-acetate ester is, thus, an important candidate for cDNA isolation for the purpose of overexpression in relevant producing organisms to increase Taxol® yield (Walker et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 364:273-279, 1999).

[0248] This enzyme has been partially purified and characterized with respect to reaction parameters (Walker et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 364:273-279, 1999); however, the published fractionation protocol does not yield a pure protein suitable for amino acid microsequencing that is required for an attempt at reverse genetic cloning of the nucleic acid. Additionally, the partially characterized polypeptide has no homologs or orthologs (for example, other terpenoid or isoprenoid O-acetyl transacylases) in the databases that would permit similarity-based cloning approaches.

[0249] Using methyl jasmonate-induced Taxus canadensis cells as an enriched enzyme source, a new isolation and purification protocol (see FIGS. 3A-3C, and protocol described herein) was developed to efficiently yield homogeneous protein for microsequencing. Although the protein was N-blocked and failed to yield peptides that could be internally sequenced by V8 (endoproteinase Glu-C, Roche Molecular Biochemical, Nutley, N.J.) proteolysis or cyanogen bromide (CNBr) cleavage, treatment with endolysC (endoproteinase Lys-C, Roche Molecular Biochemical, Nutley, N.J.) and trypsin yielded a mixture of peptides. Five of these could be separated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and verified by mass spectrometry (MS), and yielded sequence information useful for a cloning effort (FIG. 2).

[0250] For cDNA library construction, a stable, methyl jasmonate-inducible T. cuspidata suspension cell line was chosen for mRNA isolation because the production of Taxol® was highly inducible in this system (which permits the preparation of a suitable subtractive library, if necessary). The mixing of experimental protocols as used with different Taxus species is not a significant limitation, since all Taxus species are known to be very closely related and are considered by several taxonomists to represent geographic variants of the basic species T. baccata (Bolsinger and Jaramillo, Silvics of Forest Trees of North America (revised), Pacific Northwest Research Station, USDA, p. 17, Portland, Oreg., 1990; and Voliotis, Isr. J. Botany. 35:47-52, 1986). Thus, the genes encoding geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthase and taxadiene synthase (early steps of Taxol® biosynthesis) from T. canadensis and T. cuspidataevidence only very minor sequence differences. Hence, a method was developed for the isolation of high-quality mRNA from Taxus cells (Qiagen, Valencia, Calif.) and this material was employed for cDNA library construction using a commercial kit, which is available from Stratagene (La Jolla, Calif.).

[0251] Reverse Genetic Cloning

[0252] Of the five tryptic peptides that were sequenced (FIG. 2), peptide SEQ ID NOs: 30, 31, and 33 were found to exhibit some similarity to the sequences of the only two other plant acetyl transacylases that have been documented, namely, deacetylvindoline O-acetyl transacylase involved in indole alkaloid biosynthesis (St. Pierre et al., Plant J. 14:703-713, 1998) and benzyl alcohol O-acetyl transacylase involved in the biosynthesis of aromatic esters of floral scent (Dudareva et al., Plant J. 14:297-304, 1998). Lesser resemblance was found to a putative aromatic O-benzoyl transacylase of plant origin (Yang et al., Plant Mol. Biol. 35:777-789, 1997). Of the five peptide sequences (FIG. 2), SEQ ID NO: 30 was most suitable for primer design based on codon degeneracy considerations, and two such forward degenerate primers, AT-FOR1 (SEQ ID NO: 34) and AT-FOR2 (SEQ ID NO: 35), were synthesized (FIG. 4). A search of the database with the tryptic peptide ILVYYPPFAGR (SEQ ID NO: 30) revealed two possible variants of this sequence among several polypeptide entries of known and unknown function (these entries are listed in Table 2). Consideration of these distantly related sequences allowed the design of two additional forward degenerate primers (AT-FOR3 (SEQ ID NO: 36) and AT-FOR4 (SEQ ID NO: 37)), and permitted identification of a distal consensus sequence from which a degenerate reverse primer (AT-REV1 (SEQ ID NO: 38)) was designed (FIG. 4). An alignment of the Taxus sequences with the extant database sequence entries of Table 2 illustrates the lack of significant homology between the Taxus sequences and any previously described polypeptides. TABLE 2 Database (GenBank) sequences used for peptide comparisons. For alignment, see FIG. 6; for placement in dendrogram, see FIG. 7. The accession number is followed by a two-letter code indicating genus and species (AT, Arabidopsis thaliana; CM, Cucumis melo; CR, Catharanthus roseus; DC, Dianthus caryophyllus; CB, Clarkia breweri; NT, Nicotiana tabacum). Protein Accession No. Identification No. Function AC000103_AT g2213627 unknown; from genomic sequence SEQ ID NO: 61 for Arabidopsis thaliana BAC F21J9 AC000103_AT g2213628 unknown; from genomic sequence SEQ ID NO: 62 for A. thaliana BAC F21J9 AF002109_AT g2088651 unknown; hypersensitivity-related SEQ ID NO: 63 gene 201 isolog AC002560_AT g2809263 unknown; from genomic sequence SEQ ID NO: 64 for A. thaliana BAC F21B7 AC002986_AT g3152598 unknown; similarity to C2-HC SEQ ID NO: 65 type zinc finger protein C.e-MyT1 gb/U67079 from C. elegans and to hypersensitivity-related gene 201 isolog T28M21.14 from A. thaliana BAC AC002392_AT g3176709 putative anthranilate SEQ ID NO: 69 N-hydroxycinnamoyl/ benzoyltransferase AL031369_AT g3482975 unknown; putative protein SEQ ID NO: 70 Z84383_AT g2239083 hydroxycinnamoyl: benzoyl-CoA: SEQ ID NO: 73 anthranilate N-hydroxycinnamoyl: benzoyl transferase Z97338_AT g2244896 unknown; similar to HSR201 SEQ ID NO: 74 protein N. tabacum Z97338_AT g2244897 unknown; hypothetical protein SEQ ID NO: 75 AL049607_AT g4584530 unknown; putative protein SEQ ID NO: 76 AF043464_CB g3170250 acetyl CoA: benzylalcohol SEQ ID NO: 66 acetyl transferase Z70521_CM g1843440 unknown; expressed during SEQ ID NO: 72 ripening of melon (Cucumis melo L.) fruits AF053307_CR g4091808 deacetylvindoline 4-O-acetyl SEQ ID NO: 68 transferase AC004512_DC g3335350 unknown; similar to gb/Z84386 SEQ ID NO: 67 anthranilate N-hydroxycinnamoyl/ benzoyltransferase from Dianthus caryophyllus X95343_NT g1171577 unknown; hypersensitive reaction SEQ ID NO: 71 in tobacco

[0253] PCR amplifications were performed using each combination of forward and reverse primers, and induced Taxus cell library cDNA as a target. The amplifications produced, by cloning and sequencing, twelve related but distinct amplicons (each ca. 900 bp) having origins from the various primers (Table 3). These amplicons are designated “Probe 1” through “Probe 12,” and their nucleotide and deduced amino acid sequences are listed as SEQ ID NOs: 1-24, respectively. TABLE 3 Primer combinations, amplicons and acquired genes. The parentheses and brackets are used to designate the primer pair used and the corresponding frequency at which that primer pair amplified the probe. Amplicon Size Acquired Nucleic acid Primer Pair (bp) Frequency Designation Designation Function AT-FOR1/AT-REV1  920 7/12 Probe 1 TAX1 (full-length) taxadienol acetyl (AT-FOR2/AT-REV1) (12/31) SEQ ID NO: 27; SEQ ID NO: 28 transferase (FIG. 4) SEQ ID NO: 1; SEQ ID NO: 2 TAX2 (full-length) taxane-2-O- SEQ ID NO: 25; SEQ ID NO: 26 benzoyl transferase AT-FOR1/AT-REV1  920 7/12 Probe 2 robe 2 was not used, but likely — (AT-FOR2/AT-Rev1) (2/31) could have acquired TAX2 because the sequence corresponds directly to this nucleic acid. (FIG. 4) SEQ ID NO: 3; SEQ ID NO: 4 AT-FOR4/AT-REV1  903 2/29 Probe 3 — — (FIG. 4) SEQ ID NO: 5; SEQ ID NO: 6 AT-FOR3/AT-REV1  908 1/29 Probe 4 — — (FIG. 4) SEQ ID NO: 7; SEQ ID NO: 8 — — AT-FOR4/AT-REV1 1297 1/32 Probe 5 TAX5 (full-length) unknown SEQ ID NO: 49; SEQ ID NO: 50 (FIG. 4) SEQ ID NO: 9; SEQ ID NO: 10 — — AT-FOR2/AT-REV1  911 8/32 Probe 6 TAX6 (full-length) 10- (AT-FOR3/AT-REV1) (1/29) SEQ ID NO: 44; Seq. ID No: 45 deacetylbaccatin [AT-FOR4/AT-REV1] [1/32] III-10-O-acetyl transferase (FIG. 4) SEQ ID NO: 11; — — SEQ ID NO: 12 AT-FOR3/AT-REV1  968 6/29 Probe 7 TAX7 (full-length) c-13 SEQ ID NO: 51; SEQ ID NO: 52 phenylpropanoid side chain-CoA acyltransferase (FIG.4) SEQ ID NO: 13; — — SEQ ID NO: 14 AT-FOR3/AT-REV1  908 1/29 Probe 8 — — (AT-FOR4/AT-REV1) (2/32) (FIG. 4) SEQ ID NO: 15; — — SEQ ID NO: 16 AT-FOR2/AT-REV1  908 1/32 Probe 9 AX9 (full-length) unknown (AT-FOR3/AT-REV1) (5/29) SEQ ID NO: 59; SEQ ID NO: 60 (FIG. 4) SEQ ID NO: 17; — — SEQ ID NO: 18 AT-FOR4/AT-REV1  911 2/32 Probe 10 TAX 10 (full-length) benzoyl-CoA:3′- SEQ ID NO: 53; SEQ ID NO: 54 N-debenzoyl-2′- deoxytaxol N-benzoyl- transferase (FIG. 4) SEQ ID NO: 19; — — SEQ ID NO: 20 AT-FOR4/AT-REV1  911 1/32 Probe 11 — — (FIG. 4) SEQ ID NO: 21; — — SEQ ID NO: 22 AT-FOR3/AT-REV1  908 3/29 Probe 12 TAX12 (full-length) unknown (AT-FOR4/AT-REV1) (1/32) SEQ ID NO: 55; SEQ ID NO: 56 (FIG. 4) SEQ ID NO: 23; — — SEQ ID NO: 24 TAX13 does not appear to TAX13 (full-length) unknown directly correspond to SEQ ID NO: 57; SEQ ID NO: 58 any of the above listed Probes

[0254] Notably, Probe 1, derived from the primers AT-FOR1 (SEQ ID NO: 34) and AT-REV1 (SEQ ID NO: 38), amplified a ˜900 bp DNA fragment encoding, with near identity, the proteolytic peptides corresponding to SEQ ID NOs: 31-33 of the purified protein. These results suggested that the amplicon Probe 1 represented the target nucleic acid for taxadienol acetyl transacylase. Probe 1 was then ³²P-labeled and employed as a hybridization probe in a screen of the methyl jasmonate-induced T. cuspidata suspension cell λZAP II™ cDNA library. Standard hybridization and purification procedures ultimately led to the isolation of three full-length, unique clones designated TAX1, TAX2, and TAX6 (SEQ ID NOS: 27,25, and 44, respectively). The clones and encoded proteins of TAX7 (SEQ ID NOS: 51-52) and TAX10 (SEQ ID NOS: 53-54) are discussed in Example 3 and 4 below.

[0255] Sequence Analysis and Functional Expression

[0256] Clone TAX1 (SEQ ID NO: 27) bears an open reading frame of 1317 nt and encodes a deduced protein (SEQ ID NO: 28) of 439 aa with a calculated molecular weight of 49,079 Da. Clone TAX2 (SEQ ID NO: 25) bears an open reading frame of 1320 nt and encodes a deduced protein (SEQ ID NO: 26) of 440 aa with a calculated molecular weight of 50,089 Da. Clone TAX6 (SEQ ID NO: 44) bears an open reading frame of 1320 nt and encodes a deduced protein (SEQ ID NO: 45) of 440 aa with a calculated molecular weight of 49,000 Da.

[0257] The sizes of TAX1 and TAX2 are consistent with the molecular weight of the native taxadienol transacetylase (MW ˜50,000) determined by gel-permeation chromatography (Walker et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 364:273-279, 1999) and SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). The deduced amino acid sequences of both TAX1 and TAX2 also remotely resemble those of other acetyl transacylases (50-56% identity; 64-67% similarity) involved in different pathways of secondary metabolism in plants (St. Pierre et al., Plant J. 14:703-713, 1998; and Dudareva et al., Plant J. 14:297-304, 1998). When compared to the amino acid sequence information from the tryptic peptide fragments, TAX1 exhibited a very close match (91% identity), whereas TAX2 exhibited conservative differences (70% identity).

[0258] The TAX6 calculated molecular weight of 49,052 Da is consistent with that of the native TAX6 protein (˜50 kDa), determined by gel permeation chromatography, indicating the protein to be a functional monomer, and is very similar to the size of the related, monomeric taxadien-5α-ol transacetylase (MW=49,079). The acetyl CoA: 10-deacetylbacctin III-10-O-acetyl transferase from Taxus cuspidata appears to be substantially different in size from the acetyl CoA: 10-hydroxytaxane-O-acetyl transferase recently isolated from Taxus chinensis and reported at a molecular weight of 71,000 (Menhard and Zenk, Phytochemistry 50:763-774, 1999).

[0259] The deduced amino acid sequence of TAX6 resembles that of TAX1 (64% identity; 80% similarity) and those of other acetyl transferases (56-57% identity; 65-67% similarity) involved in different pathways of secondary metabolism in plants (Dudareva et al., Plant J. 14:297-304, 1998; St-Pierre et al., Plant J. 14:703-713, 1998). Additionally, TAX6 possesses the HXXXDG (SEQ ID NO: 48) (residues H162, D166, and G167, respectively) motif found in other acyl transferases (Brown et al., J. Biol. Chem. 269:19157-19162, 1994; Carbini and Hersh, J. Neurochem. 61:247-253, 1993; Hendle et al., Biochemistry 34:4287-4298, 1995; and Lewendon et al., Biochemistry 33:1944-1950, 1994); this sequence element has been suggested to function in acyl group transfer from acyl CoA to the substrate alcohol (St. Pierre et al., Plant J. 14:703-713, 1998).

[0260] To determine the identity of the putative taxadienol acetyl transacylase, TAX1, TAX2, and TAX6 were subcloned in-frame into the expression vector pCWori+ (Barnes, Methods Enzymol. 272:3-14, 1996) and expressed in E. coli JM109 cells. The transformed bacteria were cultured and induced with isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG), and cell-free extracts were prepared and evaluated for taxadienol acetyl transacylase activity using the previously developed assay procedures (Walker et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 364:273-279, 1999). Clone TAX1 (corresponding directly to Probe 1) expressed high levels of taxadienol acetyl transacylase activity (20% conversion of substrate to product), as determined by radiochemical analysis; the product of this recombinant enzyme was confirmed as taxadienyl-5α-yl acetate by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) (FIGS. 5A-5G). Clone TAX2 did not express taxadienol acetyl transacylase activity and was inactive with the [³H]taxadienol and acetyl CoA co-substrates. TAX2 was later found to encode a taxane-2-O-benzoyl transferase. Neither of the recombinant proteins expressed from TAX1 or TAX2 was capable of acetylating the advanced Taxol® precursor 10-deacetyl baccatin III to baccatin III. Thus, based on the demonstration of functionally expressed activity, and the resemblance of the recombinant enzyme in substrate specificity and other physical and chemical properties to the native form, clone TAX1 was confirmed to encode the Taxus taxadienol acetyl transacylase.

[0261] Additionally, the heterologously expressed TAX6 was partially purified by anion-exchange chromatography (O-diethylaminoethylcellulose, Whatman, Clifton, N.J.) and ultrafiltration (Amicon Diaflo YM 10 membrane, Millipore, Bedford, Mass.) to remove interfering hydrolases from the bacterial extract, and the recombinant enzyme was determined to catalyze the conversion of 10-deacetylbaccatin III to baccatin III; the latter is the last diterpene intermediate in the Taxol® (paclitaxel) biosynthetic pathway. The optimum pH for TAX6 was determined to be 7.5, with half-maximal velocities at pH 6.4 and 7.8. The K_(m) values for 10-deacetylbaccatin III and acetyl CoA were determined to be 10 μM and 8 μM, respectively, by Lineweaver-Burk analysis (for both plots R²=0.97). These kinetic constants for TAX6 are comparable to the taxa-4(20),11(12)-dien-5α-ol acetyl transferase possessing K_(m) values for taxadienol and acetyl CoA of 4 μM and 6 μM, respectively. The TAX6 enzyme appears to acetylate the 10-hydroxyl group of taxoids with a high degree of regioselectivity, since the enzyme does not acetylate the 1β-, 7β-, or 13α-hydroxyl groups of 10-deacetylbaccatin III, nor does it acetylate the 5α-hydroxyl group of taxa-4(20),11(12)-dien-5α-ol.

Example 2 Isolating a Nucleic Acid Encoding acetyl CoA:taxa-4(20),11(12)-dien-5α-ol O-acetyl transacylase

[0262] Overview

[0263] A newly designed isolation and purification method is described herein for the preparation of homogeneous taxadien-5α-ol acetyl transacylase from Taxus canadensis. The purified protein was N-terminally blocked, thereby requiring internal amino acid microsequencing of fragments generated by proteolytic digestion. Peptide fragments so generated were purified by HPLC and sequenced, and one suitable sequence was used to design a set of degenerate PCR primers. Several primer combinations were employed to amplify a series of twelve related, DNA sequences (Probes 1-12; see Table 3). Nine of these DNA sequences were used as hybridization probes to screen an induced Taxus cuspidata cell cDNA library. This strategy allowed for the successful isolation of eight full-length transacylase cDNA clones. The identity of one of these clones was confirmed by sequence matching to the peptide fragments described herein and by heterologous functional expression of transacylase activity in Escherichia coli.

[0264] Culture of Cells

[0265] Initiation, propagation and induction of Taxus sp. cell cultures, reagents, procedures for the synthesis of substrates and standards, and general methods for transacylase isolation, characterization and assay have been previously described (Hefner et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 360:62-75, 1998; and Walker et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 364:273-279, 1999). Since all designated Taxus species are considered to be closely related subspecies (Bolsinger and Jaramillo, Silvics of Forest Trees of North America (revised), Pacific Northwest Research Station, USDA, Portland, Oreg., 1990; and Voliotis, Isr. J. Botany 35:47-52, 1986), the Taxus cell sources were chosen for operational considerations because only minor sequence differences and/or allelic variants between proteins and genes of the various “species” were expected. Thus, Taxus canadensis cells were chosen as the source of transacetylase, because they express transacetylase at high levels, and Taxus cuspidata cells were selected for cDNA library construction because they produce Taxol® at high levels.

[0266] Isolation and Purification of the Enzyme

[0267] No related terpenol transacylase genes are available in the databases (see below) to permit homology-based cloning. Hence, a protein-based (reverse genetic) approach to cloning the target transacetylase was utilized. This reverse genetic approach required obtaining a partial amino acid sequence, generating degenerate primers, amplifying a portion of cDNA using PCR, and using the amplified fragment as a probe to detect the correct clone in a cDNA library.

[0268] Unfortunately, the previously described partial protein purification protocol, including an affinity chromatography step, did not yield pure protein for amino acid microsequencing, nor did the protocol yield protein in useful amounts, or provide a sufficiently simplified SDS-PAGE banding pattern to allow assignment of the transacetylase activity to a specific protein (Walker et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 364:273-279, 1999). Furthermore, numerous variations on the affinity chromatography step, as well as the earlier anion exchange and hydrophobic interaction chromatography steps, failed to improve the specific activity of the preparations due to the instability of the enzyme upon manipulation. Also, a five-fold increase in the scale of the preparation resulted in only marginally improved recovery (generally<5% total yield accompanied by removal of>99% of total starting protein). Furthermore, because the enzyme could not be purified to homogeneity, and attempts to improve stability by the addition of polyols (sucrose, glycerol), reducing agents (Na₂S₂O₅, ascorbate, dithiothreitol, β-mercaptoethanol), and other proteins (albumin, casein) also were not productive (Walker et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 364:273-279, 1999), this approach was abandoned.

[0269] To overcome the problem described above, the following isolation and purification procedure was used. The purity of the taxadienol acetyl transacylase after each fractionation step was assessed by SDS-PAGE according to Laemmli (Laemmli, Nature 227:680-685, 1970); quantification of total protein after each purification step was carried out by the method of Bradford, Analytical Biochem. 72:248-254, 1976, or by Coommassie Blue staining, and transacylase activity was assessed using the methods described in Walker et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 364:273-279, 1999.

[0270] Procedures for protein staining have been described (Wray et al., Anal. Biochem. 118:197-203, 1991). The preparation of the T. canadensis cell-free extracts and all subsequent procedures were performed at 0-4° C. unless otherwise noted. Cells (40 g batches) were frozen in liquid nitrogen and thoroughly pulverized for 1.5 minutes using a mortar and pestle. The resulting frozen powder was transferred to 225 mL of ice cold 30 mM HEPES buffer (pH 7.4) containing 3 mM dithiothreitol (DTT), XAD-4 polystyrene resin (12 g) and polyvinylpolypyrrolidone (PVPP, 12 g) to adsorb low molecular weight resinous and phenolic compounds. The slurry was slowly stirred for 30 minutes, and the mixture was filtered through four layers of cheese cloth to remove solid absorbents and particulates. The filtrate was centrifuged at 7000 g for 30 minutes to remove cellular debris, then at 100,000 g for 3 hours, followed by 0.2-μm filtration to yield a soluble protein fraction (in ˜200 mL buffer) used as the enzyme source.

[0271] The soluble enzyme fraction was subjected to ultrafiltration (DIAFLO™ YM 30 membrane, Millipore, Bedford, Mass.) to concentrate the fraction from 200 mL to 40 mL and to selectively remove proteins of molecular weight lower than the taxadien-5α-ol acetyl transacylase (previously established at 50,000 Da in Walker et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 364:273-279, 1999). Using a peristaltic pump, the concentrate (40 mL) was applied (2 mL/minute) to a column of O-diethylaminoethylcellulose (2.8×10 cm, Whatman DE-52, Fairfield, N.J.) that had been equilibrated with “equilibration buffer” (30 mM HEPES buffer (pH 7.4) containing 3 mM DTT). After washing with 60 mL of equilibration buffer to remove unbound material, the proteins were eluted with a step gradient of the same buffer containing 50 mM (25 mL), 125 mM (50 mL), and 200 mM (50 mL) NaCl.

[0272] The fractions were assayed as described previously (Walker et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 364:273-279, 1999), and those containing taxadien-5α-ol acetyl transacylase activity (125-mM and 200-mM fractions) were combined (100 mL, ˜160 mM) and diluted to 5 mM NaCl (160 mL) by ultrafiltration (DIAFLO™ YM 30 membrane, Millipore, Bedford, Mass.) and repeated dilution with 30 mM HEPES buffer (pH 7.4) containing 3 mM DTT.

[0273] Further purification was effected by high-resolution anion-exchange and hydroxyapatite chromatography run on a Pharmacia FPLC system coupled to a 280-nm effluent detector. The preparation described above was applied to a preparative anion-exchange column (10×100 mm, Source 15Q, Pharmacia Biotech., Piscataway, N.J.) that was previously washed with “wash buffer” (30 mM HEPES buffer (pH 7.4) containing 3 mM DTT) and 1 M NaCl, and then equilibrated with wash buffer (without NaCl). After removing unbound material, the applied protein was eluted with a linear gradient of 0 to 200 mM NaCl in equilibration buffer (215 mL total volume; 3 mL/minute) (see FIG. 3A). Fractions containing transacetylase activity (eluting at ˜80 mM NaCl) were combined and diluted to 5 mM NaCl by ultrafiltration using 30 mM HEPES buffer (pH 7.4) containing 3 mM DTT as diluent, as described above. The desalted protein sample (70 mL) was loaded onto an analytical anion-exchange column (5×50 mm, Source 15Q, Pharmacia Biotech., Piscataway, N.J.) that was washed and equilibrated as before. The column was developed using a shallow, linear salt gradient with elution to 200 mM NaCl (275 mL total volume, 1.5 mL/minute, 3.0 mL fractions). The taxadienol acetyl transacylase eluted at ˜55-60 mM NaCl (see FIG. 3B), and the appropriate fractions were combined (15 mL), reconstituted to 45 mL in 30 mM HEPES buffer (pH 6.9) and applied to a ceramic hydroxyapatite column (10×100 mm, Bio-Rad Laboratories, Hercules, Calif.) that was previously washed with 200 mM sodium phosphate buffer (pH 6.9) and then equilibrated with an “equilibration buffer” (30 mM HEPES buffer (pH 6.9) containing 3 mM DTT (without sodium phosphate)). The equilibration buffer was used to desorb weakly associated material, and the bound protein was eluted by a gradient from 0 to 40 mM sodium phosphate in equilibration buffer (125 mL total volume, at 3.0 mL/minute, 3.0 mL fractions) (see FIG. 3C). The fractions containing the highest activity, eluting over 27 mL at 10 mM sodium phosphate, were combined and shown by SDS-PAGE to yield a protein of ˜95% purity (a minor contaminant was present at ˜35 kDa, see FIG. 3D). The level of transacylase activity was measured after each step in the isolation and purification protocol described above. The level of activity recovered is shown in Table 4. TABLE 4 Summary of taxadien-5α-ol O-acetyl transferase purification from Taxus cells. Specific Total Total Activity activity Protein (pkat/mg Purification (pkat) (mg) protein) (fold) Crude extract 302 1230 0.25 1 YM30 ultrafiltration 136 98 1.4 5.6 DE-52 122 69 1.8 7.2 YM30 ultrafiltration 54 55 1.0 4 Source 15Q 47 3 16 63 (10 × 100 mm) YM3O ultrafiltration 19 2.6 7.3 29 Source 15Q 13 0.12 108 400 (5 × 50 mm) Hydroxyapatite 10 0.05 200 800

[0274] Amino Acid Microsequencing of Taxadienol Acetyl Transacylase

[0275] The purified protein from multiple preparations as described above (>95% pure, ˜100 pmol, 50 μg) was subjected to preparative SDS-PAGE (Laemmli, Nature 227:680-685, 1970). The protein band at 50 kDa, corresponding to the taxadienol acetyl transacylase, was excised. Whereas treatment with V8 protease or treatment with cyanogen bromide (CNBr) failed to yield sequencable peptides, in situ proteolysis with endolysC (Caltech Sequence/Structure Analysis Facility, Pasadena, Calif.) and trypsin (Fernandez et al., Anal Biochem. 218:112-118, 1994) yielded a number of peptides, as determined by HPLC, and several of these were separated, verified by mass spectrometry (Fernandez et al., Electrophoresis 19:1036-1045, 1998), and subjected to Edman degradative sequencing, from which five distinct and unique amino acid sequences (designated SEQ ID NOs: 29-33) were obtained (FIG. 2).

[0276] cDNA Library Construction and Related Manipulations

[0277] A cDNA library was constructed from mRNA isolated from T. cuspidata suspension culture cells that had been induced to maximal Taxol® production with methyl jasmonate for 16 hours. An optimized protocol for the isolation of total RNA from T. cuspidata cells was developed empirically using a buffer containing 100 mM Tri-HCl (pH 7.5), 4 M guanidine thiocyanate, 25 mM EDTA and 14 mM β-mercaptoethanol. Cells (1.5 g) were disrupted at 0-4° C. using a Polytron™ ultrasonicator (Kinematica AG, Switzerland; 4×15 second bursts at power setting 7), the resulting homogenate was adjusted to 2% (v/v) Triton X-100 and allowed to stand 15 minutes on ice. An equal volume of 3 M sodium acetate (pH 6.0) was then added, and the mixed solution was incubated on ice for an additional 15 minutes, followed by centrifugation at 15,000g for 30 minutes at 4° C. The resulting supernatant was mixed with 0.8 volume of isopropanol and allowed to stand on ice for 5 minutes, followed by centrifugation at 15,000 g for 30 minutes at 4° C. The resulting pellet was dissolved in 8 mL of 20 mM Tris-HCl (pH 8.0) containing 1 mM EDTA, adjusted to pH 7.0 by addition of 2 mL of 2 M NaCl in 250 mM MOPS buffer (pH 7.0), and total RNA was recovered by passing this solution over a nucleic acid isolation column (Qiagen, Inc.; Valencia, Calif.) following the manufacturer's instructions. Poly(A)+ mRNA was then purified from total RNA by chromatography on oligo(dT) beads (Oligotex™ mRNA Kit, Qiagen, Inc.), and this material was used to construct a library using the λZAPII™ cDNA synthesis kit and Gigapack™ III gold packaging kit from Stratagene Corp. (La Jolla, Calif.) by following the manufacturer's instructions.

[0278] Unless otherwise stated, standard methods were used for DNA manipulations and cloning (see, e.g., Innis et al., 1999, and Sambrook et al., 2001). DNA was sequenced using Amplitaq™ (Hoffmann-La Roche Inc., Nutley, N.J.) DNA polymerase and cycle sequencing (fluorescence sequencing) on an ABI Prism™ 373 DNA Sequencer. The E. coli strains XL1-Blue and XL1-Blue MRF′ (Stratagene Corp.; La Jolla, Calif.) were used for routine cloning of PCR products and for cDNA library construction, respectively. E. coli XL1-Blue MRF′cells were used for in vivo excision of purified pBluescript SK from positive plaques and the excised plasmids were used to transform E. coli SOLR cells.

[0279] Degenerate Primer Design and PCR Amplification

[0280] Due to codon degeneracy, only one sequence of the five tryptic peptide fragments obtained (SEQ ID NO: 30 of FIG. 2) was suitable for PCR primer construction. Two such degenerate forward primers, designated AT-FOR1 (SEQ ID NO: 34) and AT-FOR2 (SEQ ID NO: 35), were designed based on this sequence (FIG. 4). Using the NCBI Blast 2.0 database searching program (Genetics computer Group, Program Manual for the Wisconsin Package, version 9, Genetics computer Group, 575 Science Drive, Madison, Wisc., 1994) to search for this sequence element among the few defined transacylases of plant origin (St. Pierre et al., Plant J. 14:703-713, 1998; Dudareva et al., Plant J. 14:297-304, 1998; and Yang et al., Plant Mol. Bio. 35:777-789, 1997), and the many deposited sequences of unknown function, allowed the identification of two possible sequence variants of this element (FYPFAGR (SEQ ID NO: 39) and YYPLAGR (SEQ ID NO: 40)) from which two additional degenerate forward primers, designated AT-FOR3 (SEQ ID NO: 36) and AT-FOR4 (SEQ ID NO: 37), were designed (FIG. 4). The sequences employed for this comparison are listed in Table 1. Using this range of functionally defined and undefined sequences, conserved regions were sought for the purpose of designing a degenerate reverse primer (the distinct lack of similarity of the Taxus sequences to genes in the database can be appreciated by reference to FIGS. 6A-6N), from which one such consensus sequence element (DFGWGKP) (SEQ ID NO: 41) was noted, and was employed for the design of the reverse primer AT-REV1 (SEQ ID NO: 38) (FIG. 4). This set of four forward primers and one reverse primer incorporated a varied number of inosines, and ranged from 72- to 216-fold degeneracy. The remaining four proteolytic peptide fragment sequences (SEQ ID NO: 29, SEQ ID NO: 31, SEQ ID NO: 32, SEQ ID NO: 33 of FIG. 2) were less suitable for primer design, and were not found (by NCBI BLAST™ searching) to be similar to other related sequences, thus suggesting that these represented more specific sequence elements of the Taxus transacetylase nucleic acid.

[0281] Each forward primer (150 μM) and the reverse primer (150 μM) were used in separate PCR reactions performed with Taq polymerase (3 U/100 μL reaction containing 2 mM MgCl₂) and employing the induced T. cuspidata cell cDNA library (10⁸ PFU) as template under the following conditions: 94° C. for 5 minutes, 32 cycles at 94° C. for 1 minute, 40° C. for 1 minute and 74° C. for 2 minutes and, finally, 74° C. for 5 minutes. The resulting amplicons (regions amplified by the various primer combinations) were analyzed by agarose gel electrophoresis and the products were extracted from the gel, ligated into pCR TOPOT7 (Invitrogen Corp.; Carlsbad, Calif.), and transformed into E. Coli TOPI0F′ cells (invitrogen, Carlsbad, Calif.). Plasmid DNA was prepared from individual transformants and the inserts were fully sequenced.

[0282] The combination of primers AT-FOR1 (SEQ ID NO: 34) and AT-REV1 (SEQ ID NO: 38) yielded a 900-bp amplicon. Cloning and sequencing of the amplicon revealed two unique sequences designated “Probe 1” (SEQ ID NO: 1) and “Probe 2” (SEQ ID NO: 3) (Table 3). The results with the remaining primer combinations are provided in Table 3.

[0283] Library screening

[0284] Four separate library-screening experiments were designed using various combinations of the radio-labeled amplicons (Probes 1-12) as probes. Use of radio-labeled Probe 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), led to the identification of TAX1 (SEQ ID NO: 27) and TAX2 (SEQ ID NO: 25), and use of radio-labeled Probe 6 (SEQ ID NO: 11) led to the identification of TAX6 (SEQ ID NO: 44). A probe consisting of a mixture of radio-labeled Probe 10 (SEQ ID NO: 19) and Probe 12 (SEQ ID NO: 23) led to the identification of TAX10 (SEQ ID NO: 44) and TAX12 (SEQ ID NO: 55). Finally, a probe containing a mixture of radio-labeled Probes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 9 led to the identification of TAX5, TAX 7, and TAX13 (SEQ ID NOs. 49, 51, and 57, respectively). Details of these individual library-screening experiments are provided below.

[0285] The identification of TAX1 (SEQ ID NO: 27) and TAX2 (SEQ ID NO: 25) was accomplished using 1 μg of Probe 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1) that had been amplified by PCR, the resulting amplicon was gel-purified, randomly labeled with [α-³²P]CTP (Feinberg and Vogelstein, Anal. Biochem. 137:216-217, 1984), and used as a hybridization probe to screen membrane lifts of 5×10⁵ plaques grown in E. coli XL1-Blue MRF′. Phage DNA was cross-linked to the nylon membranes by autoclaving on fast cycle 3-4 minutes at 120° C. After cooling, the membranes were washed 5 minutes in 2×SSC, then 5 minutes in 6×SSC (containing 0.5% SDS, 5×Denhardt's reagent, 0.5 g Ficoll (Type 400, Pharmacia, Piscataway, N.J.), 0.5 g polyvinylpyrrolidone (PVP-10), and 0.5 g bovine serum albumin (Fraction V, Sigma, Saint Louis, Mo.) in 100 mL total volume). Hybridization was then performed for 20 hours at 68° C. in 6×SSC, 0.5% SDS and 5×Denhardt's reagent. The nylon membranes were then washed two times for 5 minutes in 2×SSC with 0.1% SDS at 25° C., and then washed 2×30 minutes with 1×SSC and 0.1% SDS at 68° C. After washing, the membranes were exposed for 17 hours to Kodak (Rochester, N.Y.) XAR film at −70° C.

[0286] Of the plaques exhibiting positive signals (˜600 total), 60 were purified through two additional rounds of hybridization. Purified λZAPII clones were excised in vivo as pBluescript II SK(−) phagemids and transformed into E. coli SOLR cells (Stratagene Corp.; La Jolla, Calif.). The size of each cDNA insert was determined by PCR using T3 and T7 promoter primers, and size-selected inserts (>1.5 kb) were partially sequenced from both ends to sort into unique sequence types and to acquire full-length versions of each (by further screening with a newly designed 5′-probe, if necessary).

[0287] The same basic screening protocol, as illustrated by the results provided below, can be repeated with all of the probes described in Table 3, with the goal of acquiring the full range of full-length, in-frame putative transacylase clones for test of function by expression in E. coli. In the case of Probe 1 (SEQ ID NO: 1), two unique full-length clones, designated TAX1 (SEQ ID NO: 27 and SEQ ID NO: 28) and TAX2 (SEQ ID NO: 25 and SEQ ID NO: 26), were isolated.

[0288] An additional transacylase, TAX6 (SEQ ID NO: 44), was identified by using 40 ng of radio-labeled Probe 6 (SEQ ID NO: 11) to screen the T. cuspidata library. This full-length clone was 99% identical to Probe 6 (SEQ ID NO: 11) and 99% identical to the deduced amino acid sequence of Probe 6 (SEQ ID NO: 12), indicating that the probe had located its cognate.

[0289] Using 40 ng of radio-labeled Probe 10 (SEQ ID NO: 19) and 40 ng of radio-labeled Probe 12 (SEQ ID NO: 23) led to the identification of the full-length transacylases TAX10 (SEQ ID NO: 53 and SEQ ID NO: 54) and TAX12 (SEQ ID NO: 55 and SEQ ID NO: 56) in separate hybridization screening experiments.

[0290] Use of a probe mixture containing about 6 ng each of Probes 3, 4, 5, 7, and 8 (SEQ ID NOs. 5, 7, 9, 13, and 15, respectively) randomly labeled with [α-³²P]CTP (Feinberg and Vogelstein, Ana. Biochem. 137:216-2 17, 1984) resulted in the identification of full-length transacylases TAX5 (SEQ ID NO: 49) and TAX7 (SEQ ID NO: 51), which correspond to Probes 5 (SEQ ID NO: 9) and 7 (SEQ ID NO: 13), respectively. An additional full-length transacylase, TAX13 (SEQ ID NO: 57) was also identified, however, this transacylase does not correspond to any of the Probes identified in Table 3.

[0291] cDNA Expression in E. coli

[0292] Full-length insert fragments of the relevant plasmids are excised and subcloned in-frame into the expression vector pCWori+ (Barnes, Methods Enzymol. 272:3-14, 1996). This procedure can involve the elimination of internal restriction sites and the addition of appropriate 5′- and 3′-restriction sites for directional ligation into the expression vector using standard PCR protocols (Innis et al., 1999) or commercial kits such as the Quick Change Mutagenesis System (Stratagene Corp.; La Jolla, Calif.). For example, the full-length transacylase corresponding to probe 6 (SEQ ID NO: 11) was obtained using the primer set (5′-GGGAATTCCATATGGCAGGCTCAACAGAATTTGTGG-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 46) and 3′-GTTTATACATTGATTCGGAACTAGATCTGATC-5′ (SEQ ID NO: 47)) to amplify the putative full-length acetyl transferase nucleic acid and incorporate NdeI and XbaI restriction sites at the 5′- and 3′-termini, respectively, for directional ligation into vector pCWori+ (Barnes, Methods Enzymol. 272:3-14, 1996). All recombinant pCWori+ plasmids are confirmed by sequencing to insure that no errors have been introduced by the polymerase reactions, and are then transformed into E. coli JM109 by standard methods.

[0293] Isolated transformants for each full-length insert are grown to A₆₀₀=0.5 at 37° C. in 50 mL Luria-Bertani medium supplemented with 50 μg ampicillin/mL, and a 1-mL inoculum added to a large scale (100 mL) culture of Terrific Broth (6 g bacto-tryptone, DIFCO Laboratories, Spark, Md., 12 g yeast extract, EM Science, Cherryhill, N.J., and 2 mL glycerol in 500 mL water) containing 50 μg ampicillin/mL and thiamine HCl (320 mM) and grown at 28° C. for 24 hours. Approximately 24 hours after induction with 1 mM isopropyl β-D-thiogalactoside (IPTG), the bacterial cells are harvested by centrifugation, disrupted by sonication in assay buffer consisting of 30 mM potassium phosphate (pH 7.4), or 25 mM MOPSO (pH 7.4), followed by centrifugation to yield a soluble enzyme preparation that can be assayed for transacylase activity.

[0294] Enzyme Assay

[0295] A specific assay for acetyl CoA:taxa-4(20),11(12)-dien-5α-ol O-acetyl transacylase has been described previously (Walker et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 364:273-279, 1999, herein incorporated by reference). Generally the assay for taxoid acyltransacylases involves the CoA-dependent acyl transfer from acetyl CoA (or other acyl or aroyl CoA ester) to a taxane alcohol, and the isolation and chromatographic separation of the product ester for confirmation of structure by GC-MS (or HPLC-MS) analysis. For another example of such an assay, see Menhard and Zenk, Phytochemistry 50:763-774, 1999.

[0296] The activity of TAX6 (SEQ ID NO: 45) was assayed under standard conditions described in Walker et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 364:273-279, 1999, with 10-deacetylbaccatin III (400 μM, Hauser Chemical Research Inc., Boulder, Colo.) and [2-³H]acetyl CoA (0.45 μCi, 400 μM (NEN, Boston, Mass.)) as co-substrates. The TAX6 (SEQ ID NO: 45) enzyme preparation yielded a single product from reversed-phase radio-HPLC analysis, with a retention time of 7.0 minutes (coincident radio and UV traces) corresponding exactly to that of authentic baccatin III (generously provided by Dr. David Bailey of Hauser Chemical Research Inc., Boulder, Colo.) (FIGS. 9A-9B). The identity of the biosynthetic product was further verified as baccatin III by combined LC-MS (liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry) analysis (FIGS. 10A-10B), which demonstrated the identical retention time (8.6×0.1 minute) and mass spectrum for the product and authentic standard. Finally, a sample of the biosynthetic product, purified by silica gel analytical TLC, gave a ¹H-NMR spectrum identical to that of authentic baccatin III, confirming the enzyme as 10-deacetylbaccatin III-10-O-acetyl transferase (TAX6 (SEQ ID NO: 45)) and also confirming that the corresponding nucleic acid had been isolated.

Example 3 Characterization of a C-13 phenylpropanoid Side Chain-CoA acyltransferase

[0297] The Taxol® pharmacophore defined in chemical terms comprises, in part, a 13-O-(3-benzamido-3-phenylisoseryl) side chain, which is known to bind the N-terminus of the β-subunit of tubulin in Taxol® binding assays. A cDNA clone (designated TAX7 SEQ ID NO: 51) encoding a Taxol® C-13 O-phenylpropanoyltransferase was identified from the set of transacylases obtained from the cDNA library described in Examples 1 and 2. The recombinant enzyme (SEQ ID NO: 52) expressed in Escherichia coli catalyzes the selective 13-O-acylation of baccatin III with β-phenylalanoyl coenzyme A as the acyl donor to form N-debenzoyl-2′-deoxytaxol. The product was converted to 2′-deoxytaxol by chemical N-benzoylation, and the derivative was confirmed by various spectrometric analyses. The full-length cDNA has an open reading frame of 1,335 bases and encodes a 445 aa polypeptide with a calculated molecular weight of 50,546Da. Evaluation of the kinetic parameters for this transferase revealed K_(m) values of 2.6 μM and 4.5 μM for baccatin III and β-phenylalanoyl-CoA, respectively. The pH optimum for this recombinant O-(3-amino-3-phenylpropanoyl) transferase is at 6.8. Application of these transacylase sequences in suitable host cells can improve yields of Taxol® or can be used to potentially synthesize second-generation taxol analogs possessing greater bioactivity and water solubility. The progression of advanced metabolites in the Taxol® biosynthetic pathway is illustrated in FIG. 11A.

[0298] Substrates and Reagents

[0299] [³H]Baccatin III was prepared by the methods described in Taylor et al., J. Labelled Compd. Radiopharm. 33:501-515 (1993), except that the intermediate 7-triethylsilyl-[13-³H]baccatin III was deprotected with hydrogen fluoride by the methods described in Georg et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 4:335-338 (1994). N-tert-butoxycarbamates of(3RS)-β-phenylalanine and L-phenylalanine were prepared as described in Tarbell et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci. USA, 69:730-732 (1972).

[0300] Coenzyme A as the lithium salt was purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Corp. (St. Louis, Mo.). Di-tert-butyl dicarbonate, benzoyl chloride, sodium hydride, β-phenylalanine (3-amino-3-phenylpropionic acid), L-phenylalanine, and N-benzoyl-(2R,3S)-3-phenylisoserine and all other reagents, unless otherwise noted, were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich Corp. Authentic baccatin III was generously provided by Hauser Chemical Research (Boulder, Colo.) or was synthesized from 10-deacetylbaccatin III (Natland; Morrisville, N.C.) as described in Cravallee et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 39:4263-4266 (1998). Authentic (3′RS)-2′-deoxytaxol was prepared from the corresponding N-debenzoylated analog by methods described in Georg et al., Bioorg. Med Chem. Lett., 4:335-338 (1994).

[0301] General Procedures

[0302] The general synthetic procedure for the synthesis of the amino acid CoA thioesters was adapted from procedures described in Rasmussen et al., Biochem. J. 265:849-855 (1990); Silva et al., Anal. Biochem. 290:60-67 (2001); and Walker, K. and Croteau, Proc. Natl. Acad Sci. USA 97:13591-96 (2000). This procedure utilized a mixed anhydride intermediate to facilitate trans-thioesterification of the acyl acceptor with CoA. In each case the lyophilized N-protected (and O-protected when necessary) amino acid-CoA ester, intermediary products were typically dissolved in 5-7 mL of resuspension buffer (15 mM potassium phosphate, pH 6.9) and purified by chromatography on a C₁₈ Sep-Pak cartridge (500 mg C₁₈ silica gel, Whatman) that was first washed with methanol (10 mL), water (10 mL), and then with resuspension buffer (10 mL). After loading, the product was eluted from the column with increasing methanol (5-100%) in resuspension buffer.

[0303] Synthesis of α- and β-Phenylalanoyl-CoA Esters.

[0304] The so derived N-butoxycarbonyl-α- or β-phenylalanoyl CoA, which eluted from the C₁₈ cartridge in 15-20% methanol, was lyophilized, and the remaining residue was dissolved in 1 mL of water, the solution was cooled to 0° C., and 1 mL of trifluoroacetic acid was added dropwise with stirring over 1 h. Then the mixture was warmed to room temperature and stirred for 1 h. The progress of deamidation of the N-tert-butoxycarbonyl compound was monitored by silica gel analytical TLC (1-butanol/H₂O/acetic acid 5:3:2, vol/vol/vol) with UV absorbance detection. The R_(f) values on TLC were at 0.6 and 0.3 for N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-α- and β-phenylalanoyl CoA and α- and β-phenylalanoyl CoA, respectively. After completion, the reaction was diluted with 50 mL of water, the mixture was concentrated to 0.5 mL under vacuum, and the dilution and evaporation process was repeated 3 times to remove trifluoroacetic acid. Finally, the sample was concentrated to dryness and the residue was resuspended in 5 mL of water. The product was purified by C₁₈ Sep-Pak cartridge chromatography as described previously. The CoA esters of α- or β-phenylalanine eluted in 10-20% methanol, the eluant was evaporated completely, and the remaining residue was resusupended in deuterated water as internal reference for analysis by ¹H-NMR spectrometry. The CoA ester was quantitated by comparing the peak area of assigned protons of the sample to that of the protons of dioxane (at 11 mM) added as an internal standard. (3RS)-β-Phenylalanoyl CoA was obtained at 40% yield (16 mmol at>95% purity based on ¹H-NMR) with respect to N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-(3RS)-β-phenylalanine (40 mmol), and S-α-phenylalanine was obtained at 26% yield (11 rmmol at>90% purity based on ¹H-NMR) with respect to N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-(S)-β-phenylalanine (42 mol). After NMR analysis, the D₂O was evaporated, and the CoA esters were dissolved in water to make a 10 mM solution. ¹H-NMR (300 MHz, D₂O) of (3RS)-β-phenylalanoyl CoA (see FIG. 11B for numbering) δ: 0.56 (s, H-10′), 0.70 (s, H-11′), 2.12 (dd, J=6.3 and 6.9 Hz, H-4′), 2.74 (m, H-1′), 3.04 (dd, J=5.1 and 6.0, H-2′), 3.21 (m, H-2 and H-5′), 3.37 (dd, J=4.8 and 9.6 Hz, H_(a)-5″), 3.65 (dd, J=4.8 and 9.6 Hz, H_(b)-5″), 3.85 (s, H-7′), 4.03 (d, J=3.8 Hz, H_(a)-9′), 4.05 (d, J=3.8 Hz, H_(b)-9′), 4.39 (ddd, J=2.7 and 5.3 Hz, H-4″), 4.56-4.66 (m, H-3, H-2″, and H-3″), 5.95 (two doublets; one set from each isomer, J=6.9 Hz for both, H-1″), 7.21-7.27 (phenyl protons), 8.01 (two singlets; one from each isomer, adenine-CH), and 8.33 (two singlets; one from each isomer, adenine-CH) and ¹H-NMR (300 MHz, D₂O) S-α-phenylalanoyl CoA (see FIG. 11B for numbering) δ: 0.54 (s, H-10′), 0.66 (s, H-11′), 2.21 (dd, J=6.3 and 6.6 Hz, H-4′), 2.82-2.95 (m, H-3 and H-1′), 3.02-3.11 (m, H-2 and H-2′), 3.23 (dd, J=6.3 and 6.9 Hz, H-5′), 3.34 (dd, J=4.8 and 9.6 Hz, H_(a)-5″), 3.60 (dd, J=4.8 and 9.6 Hz, H_(b)-5″), 3.80 (s, H-7′), 4.00 (d, J=4.2 Hz, H_(a)-9′), 4.02 (d, J=4.2 Hz, H_(b)-⁹′), 4.36 (br ddd, H-4″), 5.91 (d, J=6.6 Hz, H-1″), 6.96-7.19 (phenyl protons), 7.97 (s, adenine-CH), 8.30 (s, adenine-CH). H-2″ and H-3″ proton signals obscured by solvent (HOD) signal.

[0305] Synthesis of N-Benzoyl-(2R, 3S)-3-phenylisoseryl-CoA

[0306] To a solution of N-benzoyl-(2R,3S)-3-phenylisoserine (230 mg, 0.81 mmol) in 10 mL tetrahydrofuran was added (dropwise) excess diazomethane in diethylether. The solvents were evaporated and the product was purified by silica gel flash column chromatography (50:50, ethyl acetate/hexane, vol/vol) to yield pure N-benzoyl-(2R,3S)-3-phenylisoserine methyl ester (0.73 mmol, 90% yield). The methyl ester (330 mg, 0.73 mmol) was dissolved in tetrahydroftiran (15 mL), and the solution was added to a stirred suspension of sodium hydride (1.1 mmol) in diethylether (10 mL) under N₂. To the mixture was added di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (170 mg, 0.77 mmol) in terahydrofuran (20 mL), and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 20 min. The mixture was chilled on ice, quenched with dropwise addition of 1 mL water, and then filtered through Celite. The filtrate was collected and the solvent evaporated. The product was purified by silica gel flash column chromatography (35:65, ethyl acetate/hexane, vol/vol) to yield pure N-benzoyl-O-tert-butoxycarbonyl-(2R,3S)-3-phenylisoserine methyl ester (0.66 mmol, 90% yield). To the O-protected methyl phenylisoserinate (26 mg, 65 [mol) in tetrahydrofuran (1.2 mL) was added NaOH (65 μmol, 32.5 μL of 2 M aqueous solution) and the solution was stirred for 12 h. The solvent was evaporated to yield the sodium salt of N-benzoyl-O-tert-butoxycarbonyl-(2R,3S)-3-phenylisoserine. The carboxylate sodium salt was susupended in tetrahydrofuran (1.4 mL) to which was added ethyl chloroformate (7.0 μL, 7.8 mg, 72 μmol) under N₂, and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 h. The coupling of the N-benzoyl-O-tert-butoxycarbonyl-(2R,3S)-3-phenylisoserine anhydride with CoA, the purification of the intermediate N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-phenylpropanoyl CoA ester, and N-deprotection with trifluoroacetic acid was performed as described in the previous section. N-Benzoyl-(2R,3S)-3-phenylisoseryl-CoA eluted from C₁₈ cartridge in 15-20% methanol (20 mmol, 30%, yield based on the methyl-N-benzoyl-O-tert-butoxycarbonyl-3-phenylisoserinate (65 mmol)). The purity of N-benzoyl phenylisoseryl-CoA was judged by ¹H-NMR to be>95%. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, D₂O) for N-benzoyl phenylisoseryl-CoA (see FIG. 11B for numbering) δ: 0.49 (s, H-10′), 0.64 (s, H-11′), 2.05 (dd, J=6.3 and 6.6 Hz, H-4′), 2.77 (m, H-1′), 3.01 (dd, J=4.2 and 6.0 Hz, H-2′), 3.15 (dd, J=6.6 Hz, H-5′), 3.31 (dd, J=4.8 and 9.6 Hz, H_(a)-5″), 3.60 (dd, J=4.8 and 9.6 Hz, H_(b)-5″), 3,79 (s, H-7′), 4.02 (d, J=3.6 Hz, H_(a)-9′), 4.04 (d, J=3.6 Hz, H_(b)9′), 4.37 (br ddd, H-4″), 4.57-4.65 (m, H-2, H-2″, and H-3″), 5.42 (d, J=3.3 Hz, H-3), 5.93 (d, J=6.6 Hz, H-1″), 7.18-7.54 (phenyl protons), 7.97 (s, adenine-CH), and 8.30 (s, adenine-CH).

[0307] Synthesis of Phenylisoseryl-CoA

[0308] The synthesis of α- and β-phenylalanoyl-CoA esters via their acid labile N-tert-butoxycarbonyl protection intermediates proved to be productive routes to the corresponding free amino acid thioesters as described previously. Therefore, a synthesis of phenylisoseryl-CoA invoking an N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-phenylisoseryl methyl ester intermediate was pursued. A transamidation method was employed to convert N-benzoyl-phenylisoserine to N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-phenylisoserine, as described in Jagtap and Kingston, Tetrahedron Lett. 40:189-192 (1999). The details of this adapted procedure were performed as follows.

[0309] To methyl N-benzoyl-(2R,3S)-3-phenylisoserinate (470 mg, 1.6 mmol) (see above) in CH₂Cl₂/tetrahydrofuran (5:2, vol/vol, 28 mL) under N₂ were added diaminopyridine (370 mg, 1.7 mmol) in CH₂Cl₂ (1.6 mL) and benzyl chloroformate (244 μL, 290 mg, 1.7 mmol), and the mixture was stirred at room temperature for 1 h. The solvents were evaporated and product was purified by silica gel flash column chromatography (ethyl acetate/hexane, 35:65, vol/vol) to yield pure N-benzoyl-O-benzylformyl-(2R,3S)-3-phenylisoserine methyl ester (1.5 mmol, 90% yield).

[0310] To the methyl ester (1.5 mmol) dissolved in CH₃CN (10 mL) under N₂ were added 10 mL CH₃CN containing dimethylaminopyridine (780 mg, 3.6 mmol) and 20 mL of CH₃CN containing di-tert-butyl dicarbonate (3.5 g, 16 mmol), and the mixture was stirred for 24 h at room temperature. The solvent was evaporated and the residue was dissolved in 15 mL CH₃CN and 100 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, and evaporated under vacuum. The product was purified by silica gel flash column chromatography (25:75, ethyl acetate/hexane, vol/vol) to yield pure methyl N-benzoyl-N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-O-benzyloxycarbonyl-(2R,3S)-3-phenylisoserinoate (0.3 mmol, 20% yield). To the methyl phenylisoserinate (0.3 mmol) in 20 mL methanol was added 20 mL 6% magnesium methoxide methanol solution. The mixture was stirred for 1 h at room temperature and diluted with 300 mL of ethyl acetate. The organic layer was washed with brine, water, again with brine, dried over Na₂SO₄, and then evaporated. The product was purified by silica gel flash chromatography (15-35% ethyl acetate gradient in hexane) to yield methyl N-tert-butoxycarbonyl-(2R,3S)-3-phenylisoserinate (0.24 mmol, 80% yield). Protection of hydroxyl group of the methyl ester was achieved by treatment with sodium hydride then di-tert-butyl dicarbonate as described in the previous section. The yield of methyl N,O-bis-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-(2R,3S)-3-phenylisoserinate was 0.2 mmol (80% yield). The hydrolysis of N,O-bis-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-(2R,3S)-3-phenylisoserine methyl ester with NaOH, esterification of the liberated carboxylate with CoA, purification of the target CoA ester, and elimination of tert-butoxycarbonyl group with trifluoroacetic acid were carried out as described herein. (2R,3S)-phenylisoserinoyl-CoA, which eluted from the C₁₈ cartridge in 10% methanol (2.9 μmol, 10% yield based on the methyl N,O-bis-(tert-butoxycarbonyl)-3-phenylisoserinate (30 μmol). The purity of phenylisoserine-CoA was judged by ¹H-NMR to be ˜80%. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CD₃OD) for phenylisoseryl-CoA (cf. FIG. 11B for numbering) δ: 0.83 (s, H-10′), 1.05 (s, H-11′), 2.44 (dd, J=6.5 and 6.7 Hz, H-4′), 2.79 (m, H-1′), 3.45 (m, H-2′), 3.47 (dd, J=6.6 Hz, H-5′), 3.57 (dd, J=6.6 and 10.5 Hz, H_(a)-5″), 3.98 (dd, J=5.4 and 9.9 Hz, H_(b)-5″), 4.06 (s, H-7′), 4.23 (d, J=3.8 Hz, H_(a)-9′), 4.25 (d, J=3.8 Hz, H_(b)-9′), 4.49 (br ddd, H-4″), 4.69-4.90 (m, H-2, H-3, H-2″, and H-3″), 6.13 (d, J=6.0 Hz, H-1″), 7.25-7.41 (phenyl protons), 8.18 (s, adenine-CH), and 8.57 (s, adenine-CH).

[0311] Heterologous Expression, Functional Transferase Assay, and Product Analysis

[0312] The cloning and expression of Taxus transacylase cDNAs and expression of the corresponding polypeptides are described herein. A 0.1 mL aliquot (˜0.5 mg total protein) of each soluble enzyme preparation was incubated for 3 h at 31 ° C. with 100 gM of the acyl-CoA co-substrate and 70 μM (0.5 μCi) [13-³H]baccatin III. The reaction mixture was basified to pH≈9 with saturated sodium bicarbonate solution and treated with benzoyl chloride (7 μmol) for 0.5 h at 25° C. After Schotten-Baumann derivatization, the mixture was extracted as described in Walker, K. & Croteau, R., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:13591-96 (2000), and analyzed by radio-HPLC [Perkin-Elmer (Shelton, Conn.) HPLC ISS 200 pump coupled to a 25 Perkin-Elmer ABI 785A UV/Visible Detector and a Packard (Meridian, Conn.) A-100 Radiomatic detector]. The samples were separated on a Phenomenex (Torrance, Calif.) reverse-phase Phenyl-3 column (5 μm, 4.6×250 mm) by elution at 1 mL/min with 25:75 (v/v) CH₃CN:H₂O for 5 min, then to 65:35 (v/v) CH₃CN:H₂O with a linear gradient over 40 min, then ramped to 85:15 (v/v) CH₃CN:H₂O and held 5 min, and finally returned to initial conditions.

[0313] Of the enzyme preparations evaluated, only that from an E. coli transformant bearing the clone designated TAX7 (when tested with all co-substrates) generated a single radioactive product (with a coincident absorbance at 254 nm) with a retention time identical to that for authentic (3′RS)-2′-deoxytaxol.

[0314] Sufficient enzyme was obtained from large-scale cultures of E. coli transformed with TAX7 for preparative conversion of substrate to product for characterization. The resulting N-debenzoylated product (˜1 mg) was chemically benzoylated as before, extracted twice with ether, the solvent evaporated, and the crude product mixture was chromatographed by TLC (0.5 mm silica gel, 50:50 (v/v) EtOAc:hexane). The material that co-migrated with authentic (3′RS)-2′-deoxytaxol R_(f)=0.15) was analyzed by ¹H-NMR (Varian Mercury 300 instrument) and combined liquid chromatography mass spectrometry on a Hewlett-Packard Series 1100 MSD system in the atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mode. The sample was dissolved in acetonitrile, loaded onto a Supelcosil Discovery HS F5 column (5μ, 4.6×250 mm, Sigma-Aldrich Corp., St. Louis, Mo.), and eluted with 50:50 (v/v) acetonitrile:water at 1 mL/min, with the effluent directed to the atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass detector in the positive-ion mode.

[0315] Partial Purification and Characterization of Recombinant T. cuspidata Phenylpropanoyltransferase

[0316] Attempts to overexpress operationally soluble TAX7 polypeptide from pSBET in E. coli resulted in the formation of inclusion bodies and aggregates. The phenylpropanoyltransferase expressed to levels of about<1% (as determined by SDS-PAGE) of the total soluble bacterial protein. The enzyme activity was further compromised by partial purification of the crude soluble extract on a diethylaminoethyl-cellulose (Whatman DE-52, Clifton, N.J.) column (2.5×20 cm; 75 mL bed volume) that was previously equilibrated with 50 mM Mopso (pH 7.2) containing 5% glycerol, 5 mM MgCl₂, and 0.5 mM dithiothreitol (Buffer A). After washing with three column volumes of Buffer A, elution of the target enzyme was achieved with a linear NaCl gradient (0-500 mM; 500 mL; 10 ml/min). Recovered activity was 15-20% of the total loaded before chromatography, presumably due to the instablity of the enzyme. Therefore, the crude preparation was used as the enzyme source to determine kinetic parameters, and in preparative assays to generate sufficient product for confirmation by spectrometric methods.

[0317] After determining optimal protein concentration and reaction time for calculating kinetic parameters, standard assays were performed at reciprocally varied co-substrate concentrations (0-1 mM) with the remaining reactant at saturation (1 mM). KALEIDAGRAPH (version 3.08, Synergy Software, Reading, Pa.) was used for calculations with double reciprocal plotting of each data set, and the equation for the best fit line (R²=0.99) was determined. The pH optimum for this O-acyltransferase was assessed in assay mixtures containing 0.44 mg of the partially purified enzyme, each diluted with 200 μL buffer comprising either 25 mM sodium acetate (pH 4.6), 2-(N-morpholino) ethanesulfaric acid (Mes) (pH 5.6-7.0, potassium phosphate (pH 6.2-7.4), (N, N-bis [2-hydroxyethyl]-glycine (Bicine) (pH 7.6-9.2).

[0318] Cloning and Expression

[0319] The biosynthetic origin of the Taxol® C-13 side chain is proposed to arise from phenyalanine, which is converted, via β-phenylalanine, to the free amine of phenylisoserine. Stable-isotope feeding studies have demonstrated that the latter 3-amino-2-hydroxy-3-phenylpropanoate was incorporated into Taxol®, but with lower efficiency than was β-phenylalanine. Benzamidation of N-debenzoyltaxol (i.e., the phenylisoserine baccatin III ester) is considered to be the last step in Taxol® biosynthesis.

[0320] Evaluation of the remaining clones of the extant group required the synthesis of β-phenylalanoyl-CoA ester (and other possible candidate CoA esters) and [³H]baccatin III as co-substrates. There are several enzymatic methods described for small-scale and large-scale preparation of coenzyme-A thioesters. Typically, radioactive coenzyme A esters are biosynthesized at high specific activity for preliminary screening of enzyme function. When larger quantities of unlabeled acyl CoA-derivatives are needed for preparative applications, a chemical synthesis approach is more practical. A large-scale enzymatic preparation of benzoyl-CoA analogs has been described in Myers and Utter, Anal. Biochem. 112:23-29 (1981), but this approach requires lengthy incubations, and the excess reaction cofactors are difficult to separate from the target acyl-CoA. Therefore, a chemical synthesis procedure, employing a mixed anhydride intermediate, was chosen to prepare β-phenylalanoyl-CoA as a potential co-substrate for screening for the transferase. In brief, β-phenylalanine was converted to N-t-Boc-β-phenylalanine by methods described in Tarbell et al., Proc. Nat. Acad. Sci USA 69:730-732 (1972), and esterified with coenzyme A using procedures described in Rasmussen et al., 1990; Silva 2001; and Walker and Croteau, 2000.

[0321] Facile removal of the t-Boc group by trifluoroacetic acid treatment followed by rapid purification of the product by reversed-phase C₁₈ chromatography afforded β-phenylalanoyl-CoA in high yield and purity. Coenzyme A esters of α-phenylalanine, phenylisoserine and N-benzoyl phenylisoserine were similarly prepared except that the latter two amino acids required t-Boc protection of the C-2 hydroxyl before conversion to the anhydride. [³H]Baccatin III was prepared by modification to the procedure of Taylor et al., J. Labelled Compd. Radiopharm. 33:501-515 (1993).

[0322] The five remaining full-length Taxus transacylase nucleic acids from the family of nine such cDNA clones were assessed. Using appropriate primers (Table 3) and a sticky-end PCR method (Zeng, BioTechniques 25, 206-208 (1998))., these cDNAs were transferred from the previously employed pCWori+ vector (5) to pSBET (Schenk, P.M., et al., BioTechniques 19, 196-200 (1995)). Denaturating and reannealing of the derived amplicon mixtures yielded cohesive-end products for each clone that contained 5′-NdeI and 3′-BamHl terminal overhangs to permit directional ligation into the appropriately digested pSBETa vector. These sequence verified vector constructs were individually transformed into E. coli BL21 (DE3) for expression. Each culture harboring a unique transacylase was used to inoculate 100 mL of Luria-Bertani medium supplemented with kanamycin (50 μg/mL) and was grown at 37° C. to an A₆₀₀=1.0, and then induced by addition of isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside to a final concentration of 0.5 mM. The cultures were then incubated at 18° C. with shaking (220 rpm) for 16 h, harvested by centrifugation (2000 g, 20 min), resuspended in 10 mL extraction buffer [50 mM Mopso (pH 7.2) 5% glycerol, 1 mM EDTA, 0.5 mM dithiothreitol], and then disrupted by sonication for 30 s at 0° C. using a Virsonic 475 (Virtis, Gardiner, N.Y.) with a 1.5 cm probe at maximum power. The resulting homogenates were clarified by centrifugation (45,000 g, 1 h) to provide the soluble enzyme fraction. A 1 mL aliquot (5 mg total protein) of the soluble enzyme preparation was incubated with 100 μM of each synthesized amino phenylpropanoyl-CoA and 70 μM (0.5 μCi) of [13-³H]baccatin as co-substrates for 3 h at 31° C.

[0323] After incubation for 3 h at 31° C., each enzyme preparation (except where N-benzoyl phenylisoseryl-CoA was used as co-substrate) was subjected to the Schotten-Baumann method using benzoyl chloride as the acyl donor to selectively N-benzoylate any biosynthesized amino phenylpropanoyl baccatin III putatively produced in the assay; this N-derivatization allowed selective, organic extraction of product and chromatography on reversed-phase HPLC.

[0324] Only recombinant enzyme (SEQ ID NO: 52) expressed from clone TAX7 (SEQ ID NO: 52) catalyzed the formation of a product that (after chemical N-benzoylation) chromatographed on radio-HPLC with exactly the same retention time (39.6±0.1 min) as that of authentic (3′RS)-2′-deoxytaxol (FIGS. 13A-13B). No product was detected in assays without either co-substrate or in control assays with boiled enzyme in the presence of both co-substrates at apparent saturation, or in complete assays in which the chemical benzamidation step was excluded.

[0325] The molecular weight of the TAX7 encoded enzyme was calculated to be 50,546 Daltons, which is similar in size to the 50 kDa soluble recombinant TAX7 enzyme (assessed by SDS/PAGE). Partially purified enzyme (by anion-exchange and hydroxyapatite chromatography) was used for preparative-scale conversion of the co-substrates to the putative β-phenylalanoyl baccatin III ester which was N-benzoylated as before. The product was purified by TLC (99% pure by UV-HPLC) and analyzed by ¹H-NMR. The sample was judged to contain a single 2′-deoxytaxol 3′-epimer (FIG. 14) by comparison to a ¹H-NMR spectrum of an authentic (3′RS)-2′-deoxytaxol standard. The identity of the benzoylated product was also confirmed by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (ACPI-MS) and comparison of the mass spectrum to that of the authentic standard (FIGS. 15A-B). Taken together, these spectrometric data confirm that TAX7 enzyme encodes a baccatin III 13-O-(3-amino-3-phenylpropanoyl)transferase.

[0326] Functional Characterization of Recombinant Phenylpropanoyltransferase

[0327] The calculated K_(m) values (Lineweaver-Burk plotting (R²=0.99)) for the recombinant enzyme designated BAPT are 2.6 μM and 4.5 μM for baccatin III and β-phenylalanoyl-CoA, respectively. The pH optimum was found to be at pH 6.8. This enzyme catalyzed the regiospecific acylation at the C-13 hydroxyl of baccatin III (no transfer to C-1 or C-7 was observed), and exhibits selectivity for 3-amino-3-phenylpropanoyl-CoA esters with a preference for β-phenylalanoyl-CoA (V_(rel)=1.0) over 3-phenylisoseryl-CoA (V_(rel)=˜0.5); α-phenylalanoyl-C and N-benzoyl phenylisoseryl-CoA were not productive acyl donors (V_(rel)<0.001).

[0328] Sequence Analysis

[0329] BAPT (GenBank accession no. AY082804) is a 1,335 nucleotide encoding a 445 amino acid polypeptide with a calculated molecular weight of 50,546. The peptide similarity amongst the five acyl/aroyltransferases involved directly in Taxol® biosynthesis is between 71-74% (FIG. 16). The BAPT sequence, however, contains a ¹⁶³GXXXDA¹⁶⁸ instead of the typical acyltransferase HXXXDG motif (also occurring, though less frequently, as HXXXDA) of which the His and Asp along with a conserved upstream cysteine residue (Cys95) (FIG. 16) are suggested to form a catalytic triad (Cys, His, Asp) for acyl group transfer catalysis. Conceivably, the Gly163 for His163 substitution in BAPT could disrupt the catalytic triad function; however, the free β-amine of the CoA ester substrate could, through hydrogen bonding, function as an intramolecular catalytic general base/acid in place of the normal histidine.

Example 4 Characterization of a benzoyl-CoA:3′-N-debenzoyl-2′-deoxytaxol N-benzoyltransferase

[0330] The TAX10 cDNA clone (SEQ ID NO: 53) was isolated as described in Example 1. This example describes how the polypeptide expressed from the cDNA (SEQ ID NO: 54) was found to encode a 3′-N-debenzoyl-2′-deoxytaxol N-benzoyltransferase.

[0331] This enzyme catalyzes the stereoselective coupling of the semisynthetic surrogate substrate (3′RS)-N-debenzoyl-2′-deoxytaxol with benzoyl-CoA to form (3′RS)-2′-deoxytaxol, and, therefore, this enzymatic amidation defines the final acylation in the Taxol® biosynthetic pathway (FIG. 17). The product, (3′RS)-2′-deoxytaxol, was confirmed by radio-HPLC, ¹H-NMR, and direct-injection chemical ionization-MS. The full-length cDNA has an open reading frame of 1,323 base pairs and encodes a 441 amino acid protein with a calculated molecular weight of 49,040 Da. The recombinant N-benzoyltransferase has a pH optimum at 8.0, a k_(cat)≈1.5±0.3 s⁻¹, K_(m) values of 0.42 mM and 0.40 mM for the N-deacylated taxoid and benzoyl-CoA, respectively, and a V_(max) at ˜7.8 pkat. In addition to this enzyme aiding to increase the production of Taxol® in genetically engineered host systems, it also provides a means to attach a benzoyl (or modified aroyl) group to several N-dearoyl Taxol® analog precursors for the purpose of improving cytotoxicity.

[0332] Substrates

[0333] (3′RS)-N-Debenzoyl-2′-deoxytaxol and (2′S)-13-O-α-phenylalanylbaccatin III were similarly synthesized as described in Shiina et al., Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn. 73:2811-18 (2000) and Saitoh et al., Chem. Lett. 7:679-80 (1998), except that either N-Boc-(3RS)-β-phenylalanine or N-Boc-(3S)-α-phenylalanine (Aldrich) was coupled to 7-TES-baccatin III. Deprotection by methods described in Georg et al., Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 3:2467-70 (1993) yielded the desired substrates. [7-¹⁴C]Benzoyl-CoA was prepared by the methods described in Walker and Croteau, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA 97:13591-96 (2000). Other coenzyme A thioester salts and (3RS)-β-phenylalanine (3-amino-3-phenylpropionic acid) were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, Mo.). Authentic baccatin III was generously provided by Hauser Chemical Research (Boulder, Colo.) or synthesized from 10-deacetylbaccatin III as described in Cravallee et al., Tetrahedron Lett. 39:4263-4266 (1998). Synthesis of (3′RS)-2′-deoxytaxol from the (3′RS)-N-debenzoyl substrate was prepared by methods described in Georg, G. I., et al., 1993.

[0334] Bacterial Expression, N-Benzoyltransferase Assay, and Product Identification

[0335] The isolation of nine transacylases clones involved in Taxol® biosynthesis is described herein. A sticky-end PCR method (see Zeng, BioTechniques 25:206-208 (1998)) was used to modify these cDNAs, previously in pCWori+ (see Walker et al., Arch. Biochem. Biophys. 374:371-380 (2000)) with appropriate primer pairs. Denaturating and reannealing of the respective amplicon mixtures yielded suitable cohesive-end products for each clone, containing 5′-NdeI and 3′-BamHl overhangs at the termini that were directionally ligated into separate NdeI/BamHI-digested pSBETa vectors; these recombinant vectors were used individually to transform E. coli BL21(DE3).

[0336] For enzyme expression, E. coli cultures transformed with a pSBET vector that harbored a putative transacylase nucleic acid were used to inoculate 100 mL of Luria-Bertani medium supplemented with kanamycin (50 μg/mL) and grown at 37° C. to an OD₂₆₀=1.0, whereupon expression was induced by addition of isopropyl-β-D-thiogalactopyranoside to a final concentration of 0.5 mM. After induction, the cultures were shaken and incubated at 18° C. for 16 h. Bacteria were harvested by a 20 min, low speed centrifugation (2000 g), resuspended in 10 mL extraction buffer (50 mM Mopso, pH 7.2, 5% glycerol, 1 mM EDTA, 0.5 mM dithiothreitol), and disrupted by sonication for 30 s at 0° C. using a Virsonic 475 (Virtis, Gardiner, N.Y.) with a 1.5 cm probe at maximum power output. Sonicates were clarified by centrifugation at 45,000 g for 1 h to provide the soluble enzyme fraction.

[0337] An aliquot (1 mL) of the soluble enzyme preparation was incubated with (3′RS)-N-debenzoyl-2′-deoxytaxol (100 μM) and [7-¹⁴C]benzoyl-CoA (80 μM, 1.5 μCi) for 2 h at 31 ° C. The reaction mixture was worked-up as described in Walker and Croteau, 2000, and the organic extracts were analyzed by radio-HPLC (Perkin-Elmer (Shelton, Conn.) HPLC ISS 200 pump coupled to a Perkin-Elmer ABI 785A UV/Visible Detector and a Packard (Meridian, Conn.) A-100 Radiomatic detector). The samples were separated on a Phenomenex, Inc. (Torrance, Calif.) reverse-phase Phenyl-3 column (5 μm, 4.6×250 mm) with elution at 1 mL/min with 25:75 CH₃CN/H₂O for 5 min, then to 65:35 CH₃CN/H₂O with a linear gradient over 40 min, ramped to 85:15 CH₃CN/H₂O and held 5 min, and finally returned to initial conditions. The soluble enzyme extract from an E. coli transformant expressing the clone (designated TAX10; SEQ ID NO: 53) generated a product detected at 254 nm and coincident with a radioactivity response at the same retention time as authentic (3′RS)-2′-deoxytaxol, which elutes as a single peak.

[0338] The described sticky-end PCR method was used to modify this clone with primers TX10NDE1F (5′-TGG AGA AGG CAG GCT CAA CAG-3′) paired with TX10BAM1R (5′-GAT CCT CAC ACT TTA CTT ACA TAT TTC TC-3′) and TX10NDE2F (5′-TAT GGA GAA GGC AGG CTC AAC AG paired with TX10BAM2R (5′-CTC ACA CTT TAC TTA CAT ATT TCT C-3′). All four primers were derived from SEQ ID NO. 53. The derived cohesive-end product was directionally subdloned into pSBETa, which was used to transform E. coli BL21(DE3). The complete sequence of the TAX10 insert was confirmed by comparing overlapping forward- and reverse-primed sequence of the appropriate strand.

[0339] This TAX10 transformant was cultured in large-scale (4 liters) to express enzyme for preparative conversion of product for NMR analysis. Product (˜1 mg) generated by large-scale preparation of the putative N-benzoyltransferase was purified by preparative silica gel TLC (0.5 mm, 50:50 EtOAc/hexane, v/v), and the band co-migrating with authentic (3′RS)-2′-deoxytaxol (R_(f)=0.15) was isolated, dissolved in 0.75 mL CDCl₃ as internal standard, and analyzed by proton nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (¹H NMR) using a Varian Mercury 300 instrument. A fraction (˜30 μg) of the TLC-purified product was dissolved in 5 mL methanol and, by syringe-pump delivery, injected directly into an atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI) probe linked to an LCQ (ThermoQuest/Finnigan; San Jose, Calif.) ion-trap mass detector instrument in positive-ion mode.

[0340] Partial Purification and Characterization of Recombinant T. cuspidata N-Benzoyltransferase

[0341] Four liters of E. coli BL21(DE3) cultures transformed with TAX10 were grown in 2.8 liter Fembach incubation flasks, harvested and extracted. The soluble extract was analyzed by SDS-PAGE and Coomassie Blue staining and demonstrated to possess an overexpressed protein of appropriate size (˜50 kDa) when compared to soluble extract of E. coli transformed with empty vector. The extract (150 mL) was loaded onto a diethylaminoethyl-cellulose (Whatman DE-52, Clifton, N.J.) column (2.5×20 cm; 75 mL bed volume) equilibrated with 50 mM Mopso, pH 7.2, containing 5% glycerol, 5 mM MgCl₂, and 0.5 mM dithiothreitol (Buffer A). After washing with three column volumes of Buffer A, elution of the enzyme was achieved with a linear NaCl gradient (0-500 mM; 500 mL; 10 mL/min). Fractions containing the bulk of the recombinant protein (120-200 mM NaCl, ˜80 mL) were pooled and loaded onto a 40 μm Type 1 Ceramic Hydroxyapatite (BioRad, Hercules, Calif.) column (2.5×20 cm; 50 mL bed volume) previously equilibrated with Buffer B (Buffer A containing 150 mM NaCl). After washing with three column volumes of Buffer B, proteins were eluted with a linear gradient of 0-100 mM potassium phosphate, pH 7.2 (250 mL; 10 mL/min). Fractions containing N-benzoyltransferase activity, eluting between 25-50 mM phosphate, were pooled, concentrated to 5 mg/mL (˜10 mL) using an Amicon Centriprep YM-30 centrifugal concentrator (Millipore, San Jose, Calif.), and filtered through a 0.45 μm Acrodisc syringe filter (Pall Life Sciences, Ann Arbor, Mich.). The filtrate containing partially purified protein (˜75% pure) was flash-frozen (liquid N₂) in 100 μL batches and stored at −80 for subsequent characterization studies.

[0342] After determining linearity with respect to protein concentration and time, k_(cat), K_(m), and V_(max) were determined using standard assay conditions at reciprocally varied cosubstrate concentrations (0-1 mM) with the remaining reactant at saturation (1 mM). KALEIDAGRAPH (version 3.08, Synergy Software, Reading, Pa.) was used for calculations, with double-reciprocal plots for each data set, and the equation for the best fit line (R²=0.99) was determined. The data are reported as the mean of duplicate assays. The pH optimum for N-acyltransferase activity was assessed in assays containing 5 μl of partially purified enzyme (˜0.5 μg protein) each diluted with either 78 μL 25 mM sodium phosphate (at pH 5.5-9.0) or 3-[cyclohexylamino]-2-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonic acid (Capso) (at pH 9.5-10) buffers.

[0343] Cloning and Heterologous Expression of a 3′-N-Debenzoyl-2′-Deoxytaxol N-Benzoyltransferase

[0344] The syntheses of N-debenzoyltaxols have been previously described (see, e.g., Gunatilaka et al., J. Org. Chem. 62, 3775-3778 (1997) and Georg, 1993), but the methods require multiple steps and/or use of costly, precious natural products (for example, Taxol® or cephalomannine) as starting material. Therefore, a direct, high-yielding four-step synthesis was implemented to couple 7-TES-baccatin III to a phenylpropanoid, (3RS)-N-Boc-β-phenylalanine, requiring minimal functional group protection. Deprotection afforded 3′RS-N-debenzoyl-2′-deoxytaxol as a surrogate substrate for surveying the expressed acyltransferases in cell-free assays.

[0345] The six full-length Taxus cDNA clones, originally in pCWori+, were transferred by a cohesive-end PCR method into pSBETa plasmid containing a T7 promoter and the argU nucleic acid which encodes for the tRNA that allows for rare (in E. coli) plant arginine codons AGA and AGG. Three Taxus nucleic acids encoding acyltransferases of known function (TAX1, TAX2, TAX6) were similarly subdloned into pSBET and used as expression vector negative controls. Each pSBET construct was used to individually transform E. coli BL21(DE3), and semipreparative cultures of each transformed and induced bacterium were generated. The cells were harvested, extracted, and the soluble fraction clarified for use in assays under standard conditions described in Walker, K. & Croteau, R. (2000), with (3′RS)-N-debenzoyl-2′-deoxytaxol and [7-¹⁴C]benzoyl-CoA as cosubstrates.

[0346] Enzyme expressed from the cDNA designated TAX10 (SEQ ID NO: 53) yielded a biosynthetic product that was revealed by reverse-phase radio-HPLC analysis (as described herein) to possess a retention time of 39.6±0.1 min (with coincident radio and UV traces) corresponding exactly to that of authentic (3′RS)-2′-deoxytaxol (FIG. 18); the HPLC conditions used did not resolve the diastereoisomers. Control extracts of E. coli host cells transformed with TAX1, TAX2, or TAX6 of defined function did not yield detectable product when assayed by identical methods. Additionally, no substrate conversion was detected in enzyme assays where either cosubstrate was absent nor in control assays with boiled protein in the presence of both cosubstrates at saturation.

[0347] The TAX10 nucleic acid was overexpressed as a ˜50 kDa protein (determined by SDS/PAGE) from pSBET in induced E. coli BL21(DE3). This operationally soluble recombinant enzyme was expressed in large-scale (4 liter) culture of transformed bacteria. The extracted enzyme was partially purified sequentially by strong anion-exchange (DE-52) and ceramic hydroxyapatite chromatographies and used in sufficient quantities to generate ˜1 mg of sample that was purified by preparative silica gel TLC. ¹H-NMR analysis of authentic (3′RS)-2′-deoxytaxol showed a diastereoisomeric ratio at 1:1 after comparing the integration of the diagnostic H-10 signal that appears as a singlet (δ6.196 and 6.232) for each isomer (FIG. 19). A similar analysis of the N-benzoyltransferase-generated product revealed that DBTNBT is stereoselective for production of one isomer in 40% excess (FIG. 19). The absolute stereochemistry of each product isomer has not been established, but the enzyme product mixture likely contains excess 3′R-isomer, consistent with the Taxol® stereochemistry at this position. Further analysis by atmospheric pressure chemical ionization mass spectrometry (APCI-MS) (FIG. 20) revealed that the enzymatic product possesses an identical mass spectrum as the authentic standard.

[0348] Recombinant N-Benzoyltransferase Characterization

[0349] The pH optimum for the recombinant DBTNBT enzyme was found to be 8.0, with half maximal velocities near pH 7.0 and 9.0. This pH optimum is similar to those of already defined Taxol® pathway acyltransferases and other acyltransferases of plant origin.

[0350] K_(m) values of 0.45 mnM and 0.41 mM were calculated for N-debenzoyl-2′-deoxytaxol and benzoyl-CoA, respectively, by double-reciprocal plot analysis of both substrates (R²=0.99). V_(max) and k_(cat) were calculated to be ˜7.8 pkat and 1.5±0.3 s⁻¹, respectively. The DBTNBT is apparently regiospecific for acylation at the 3′-amino group on 13-O-β-phenylalanyltaxane substrates but not at the 2′-amino group as evidenced by the lack of observable amide formed when 13-O-α-phenylalanylbaccatin III and [7-¹⁴C]benzoyl-CoA were used as cosubstrates. The free amino acid β-phenylalanine was also not a productive substrate, suggesting that this enzyme requires 3-amino phenylpropanic acid as its baccatin ester for N-acyl group transfer. Additionally, enzymatic amidation of S-α-phenylalanine was not observed.

[0351] To evaluate the relative selectivity of the transferase for the acyl donor, benzoyl-CoA was compared to phenylacetyl-CoA and acetyl-CoA esters as cosubstrates at saturation. Evaluation of V_(rel) shows that benzoyl-CoA (100%) is the comparatively superior acyl donor than acetyl-CoA (1%) and phenylacetyl-CoA (1%).

[0352] Sequence Analysis

[0353] Sequence information for the DBTNBT cDNA and encoded peptide sequence can be obtained from the GenBank database (accession no. AF466397). The translated 1,323 nucleotide DBTNBT clone sequence encodes a peptide of 441 amino acids with a calculated molecular weight of 49,040. The deduced amino acid sequence contains several of the salient features of Taxus acyltransferases and other acetyltransferases of plant origin (sequence similarity at ˜47-70%), including the absence of an N-terminal targeting sequence, a molecular weight of ˜50 kDa, and an HXXXD (H163 and D167) motif (FIGS. 21A-21B). Direct comparison of the deduced Taxol® pathway N-benzoyltransferase with an N-acyl transferase anthranilate-N-cinnamoyllbenzoyltransferase from Dianthus revealed significant sequence homology (53% identity, 64% similarity) (FIG. 21).

[0354] Having illustrated and described the principles of the invention in multiple embodiments and examples, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the invention can be modified in arrangement and detail without departing from such principles. Thus, we claim all modifications and equivalents coming within the spirit and scope of the following claims.

1 76 1 920 DNA Taxus cuspidata 1 atgttggtct attatccccc ttttgctggg cgcctcagag agacagaaaa tggggatctg 60 gaagtggaat gcacagggga gggtgctatg tttttggaag ccatggcaga caatgagctg 120 tctgtgttgg gagattttga tgacagcaat ccatcatttc agcagctact tttttcgctt 180 ccactcgata ccaatttcaa agacctctct cttctggttg ttcaggtaac tcgttttaca 240 tgtggaggct ttgttgttgg agtgagtttc caccatggtg tatgtgatgg tcgaggagcg 300 gcccaatttc ttaaaggttt ggcagaaatg gcacggggag aggttaagct ctcattggaa 360 ccaatatgga atatggaact agtgaagctt gatgacccta aatacctcca attttttcac 420 tttgaattcc tacgagcgcc ttcaattgtt gagaaaattg ttcaaacata ttttattata 480 gatttggaga ccataaatta tatcaaacaa tctgttatgg aagaatgtaa agaattttgc 540 tcttcattcg aagttgcatc agcaatgact tggatagcaa ggacaagagc ttttcaaatt 600 ccagaaagtg agtacgtgaa aattctcttc ggaatggaca tgaggaactc atttaatccc 660 cctcttccaa gcggatacta tggtaactcc attggtaccg catgtgcagt ggataatgtt 720 caagacctct taagtggatc tcttttgcgt gctataatga ttataaagaa atcaaaggtc 780 tctttaaatg ataatttcaa gtcaagagct gtggtgaagc catctgaatt ggatgtgaat 840 atgaatcatg aaaacgtagt tgcatttgct gattggagcc gattgggatt tgatgaagtg 900 gattttggct gggggaaacc 920 2 306 PRT Taxus cuspidata 2 Met Leu Val Tyr Tyr Pro Pro Phe Ala Gly Arg Leu Arg Glu Thr Glu 1 5 10 15 Asn Gly Asp Leu Glu Val Glu Cys Thr Gly Glu Gly Ala Met Phe Leu 20 25 30 Glu Ala Met Ala Asp Asn Glu Leu Ser Val Leu Gly Asp Phe Asp Asp 35 40 45 Ser Asn Pro Ser Phe Gln Gln Leu Leu Phe Ser Leu Pro Leu Asp Thr 50 55 60 Asn Phe Lys Asp Leu Ser Leu Leu Val Val Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Thr 65 70 75 80 Cys Gly Gly Phe Val Val Gly Val Ser Phe His His Gly Val Cys Asp 85 90 95 Gly Arg Gly Ala Ala Gln Phe Leu Lys Gly Leu Ala Glu Met Ala Arg 100 105 110 Gly Glu Val Lys Leu Ser Leu Glu Pro Ile Trp Asn Met Glu Leu Val 115 120 125 Lys Leu Asp Asp Pro Lys Tyr Leu Gln Phe Phe His Phe Glu Phe Leu 130 135 140 Arg Ala Pro Ser Ile Val Glu Lys Ile Val Gln Thr Tyr Phe Ile Ile 145 150 155 160 Asp Leu Glu Thr Ile Asn Tyr Ile Lys Gln Ser Val Met Glu Glu Cys 165 170 175 Lys Glu Phe Cys Ser Ser Phe Glu Val Ala Ser Ala Met Thr Trp Ile 180 185 190 Ala Arg Thr Arg Ala Phe Gln Ile Pro Glu Ser Glu Tyr Val Lys Ile 195 200 205 Leu Phe Gly Met Asp Met Arg Asn Ser Phe Asn Pro Pro Leu Pro Ser 210 215 220 Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asn Ser Ile Gly Thr Ala Cys Ala Val Asp Asn Val 225 230 235 240 Gln Asp Leu Leu Ser Gly Ser Leu Leu Arg Ala Ile Met Ile Ile Lys 245 250 255 Lys Ser Lys Val Ser Leu Asn Asp Asn Phe Lys Ser Arg Ala Val Val 260 265 270 Lys Pro Ser Glu Leu Asp Val Asn Met Asn His Glu Asn Val Val Ala 275 280 285 Phe Ala Asp Trp Ser Arg Leu Gly Phe Asp Glu Val Asp Phe Gly Trp 290 295 300 Gly Lys 305 3 920 DNA Taxus cuspidata 3 atgctggtct attatccccc ttttgctgga aggctgagaa acacagaaaa tggggaactt 60 gaagtggagt gcacagggga gggtgccgtc tttgtggaag ccatggcgga caacgacctt 120 tcagtattac aagatttcaa tgagtacgat ccatcatttc agcagctagt tttttatctt 180 ccagaggatg tcaatattga ggacctccat cttctaactg ttcaggtaac tcgttttaca 240 tgtgggggat ttgttgtggg cacaagattc caccatagtg tgtctgatgg aaaaggaatc 300 ggccagttac ttaaaggcat gggagaaatg gcaagggggg agtttaagcc ctccttagaa 360 ccaatatgga atagagaaat ggtgaagcct gaagacatta tgtacctcca gtttgatcac 420 tttgatttca tacacccacc tcttaatctt gagaagtcta ttcaagcatc tatggtaata 480 agcttggaga gaataaatta tatcaaacga tgcatgatgg aagaatgcaa agaatttttt 540 tctgcatttg aagttgtagt agcattgatt tggctagcaa ggacaaagtc ttttcgaatt 600 ccacccaatg agtatgtgaa aattatcttt ccaatcgaca tgaggaattc atttgactcc 660 cctcttccaa agggatacta tggtaatgct attggtaatg catgtgcaat ggataatgtc 720 aaagacctct taaatggatc tcttttatat gctctaatgc ttataaagaa atcaaagttt 780 gctttaaatg agaatttcaa atcaagaatc ttgacaaaac catctgcatt agatgcgaat 840 atgaagcatg aaaatgtagt cggatgtggc gattggagga atttgggatt ttatgaagca 900 gatttcggct ggggcaaacc 920 4 306 PRT Taxus cuspidata 4 Met Leu Val Tyr Tyr Pro Pro Phe Ala Gly Arg Leu Arg Asn Thr Glu 1 5 10 15 Asn Gly Glu Leu Glu Val Glu Cys Thr Gly Glu Gly Ala Val Phe Val 20 25 30 Glu Ala Met Ala Asp Asn Asp Leu Ser Val Leu Gln Asp Phe Asn Glu 35 40 45 Tyr Asp Pro Ser Phe Gln Gln Leu Val Phe Tyr Leu Pro Glu Asp Val 50 55 60 Asn Ile Glu Asp Leu His Leu Leu Thr Val Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Thr 65 70 75 80 Cys Gly Gly Phe Val Val Gly Thr Arg Phe His His Ser Val Ser Asp 85 90 95 Gly Lys Gly Ile Gly Gln Leu Leu Lys Gly Met Gly Glu Met Ala Arg 100 105 110 Gly Glu Phe Lys Pro Ser Leu Glu Pro Ile Trp Asn Arg Glu Met Val 115 120 125 Lys Pro Glu Asp Ile Met Tyr Leu Gln Phe Asp His Phe Asp Phe Ile 130 135 140 His Pro Pro Leu Asn Leu Glu Lys Ser Ile Gln Ala Ser Met Val Ile 145 150 155 160 Ser Leu Glu Arg Ile Asn Tyr Ile Lys Arg Cys Met Met Glu Glu Cys 165 170 175 Lys Glu Phe Phe Ser Ala Phe Glu Val Val Val Ala Leu Ile Trp Leu 180 185 190 Ala Arg Thr Lys Ser Phe Arg Ile Pro Pro Asn Glu Tyr Val Lys Ile 195 200 205 Ile Phe Pro Ile Asp Met Arg Asn Ser Phe Asp Ser Pro Leu Pro Lys 210 215 220 Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asn Ala Ile Gly Asn Ala Cys Ala Met Asp Asn Val 225 230 235 240 Lys Asp Leu Leu Asn Gly Ser Leu Leu Tyr Ala Leu Met Leu Ile Lys 245 250 255 Lys Ser Lys Phe Ala Leu Asn Glu Asn Phe Lys Ser Arg Ile Leu Thr 260 265 270 Lys Pro Ser Ala Leu Asp Ala Asn Met Lys His Glu Asn Val Val Gly 275 280 285 Cys Gly Asp Trp Arg Asn Leu Gly Phe Tyr Glu Ala Asp Phe Gly Trp 290 295 300 Gly Lys 305 5 903 DNA Taxus cuspidata 5 ttttatccgt ttgcggggcg gctcagaaat aaagaaaatg gggaacttga agtggagtgc 60 acagggcagg gtgttctgtt tctggaagcc atggccgaca gcgacctttc agtcttaaca 120 gatctggatg actacaagcc atcgtttcag cagttgattt tttctctacc acaggataca 180 gatattgagg atctccatct cttgattgtt caggtaactc gttttacatg tgggggtttt 240 gttgtgggag cgaatgtgta tagtagtgta tgtgatgcaa aaggatttgg ccaatttctt 300 caaggtatgg cagagatggc gagaggagag gttaagccct cgattgaacc gatatggaat 360 agagaactgg tgaagccaga acattgtatg cccttccgga tgagtcatct tcaaattata 420 cacgcacctc tgatcgagga gaaatttgtt caaacatctc ttgttataaa ctttgagata 480 ataaatcata tcagacaacg gatcatggaa gaatgtaaag aaagtttctc ttcatttgaa 540 attgtagcag cattggtttg gctagcaaag ataaaggctt ttcaaattcc acatagtgag 600 aatgtgaagc ttctttttgc aatggactta aggagatcat ttaatccccc tcttccacat 660 ggatactatg gcaatgcctt cggtattgca tgtgcaatgg ataatgtcca tgacctttta 720 agtggatctc ttttgcgcgc tataatgatc ataaagaaat caaagttctc tttacacaaa 780 gaactcaact caaaaaccgt gatgagcccg tctgtagtag atgtcaatac gaagttcgaa 840 gatgtagttt caattagtga ctggaggcag tctatatatt atgaagtgga ctttggttgg 900 ggc 903 6 301 PRT Taxus cuspidata 6 Phe Tyr Pro Phe Ala Gly Arg Leu Arg Asn Lys Glu Asn Gly Glu Leu 1 5 10 15 Glu Val Glu Cys Thr Gly Gln Gly Val Leu Phe Leu Glu Ala Met Ala 20 25 30 Asp Ser Asp Leu Ser Val Leu Thr Asp Leu Asp Asp Tyr Lys Pro Ser 35 40 45 Phe Gln Gln Leu Ile Phe Ser Leu Pro Gln Asp Thr Asp Ile Glu Asp 50 55 60 Leu His Leu Leu Ile Val Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Thr Cys Gly Gly Phe 65 70 75 80 Val Val Gly Ala Asn Val Tyr Ser Ser Val Cys Asp Ala Lys Gly Phe 85 90 95 Gly Gln Phe Leu Gln Gly Met Ala Glu Met Ala Arg Gly Glu Val Lys 100 105 110 Pro Ser Ile Glu Pro Ile Trp Asn Arg Glu Leu Val Lys Pro Glu His 115 120 125 Cys Met Pro Phe Arg Met Ser His Leu Gln Ile Ile His Ala Pro Leu 130 135 140 Ile Glu Glu Lys Phe Val Gln Thr Ser Leu Val Ile Asn Phe Glu Ile 145 150 155 160 Ile Asn His Ile Arg Gln Arg Ile Met Glu Glu Cys Lys Glu Ser Phe 165 170 175 Ser Ser Phe Glu Ile Val Ala Ala Leu Val Trp Leu Ala Lys Ile Lys 180 185 190 Ala Phe Gln Ile Pro His Ser Glu Asn Val Lys Leu Leu Phe Ala Met 195 200 205 Asp Leu Arg Arg Ser Phe Asn Pro Pro Leu Pro His Gly Tyr Tyr Gly 210 215 220 Asn Ala Phe Gly Ile Ala Cys Ala Met Asp Asn Val His Asp Leu Leu 225 230 235 240 Ser Gly Ser Leu Leu Arg Ala Ile Met Ile Ile Lys Lys Ser Lys Phe 245 250 255 Ser Leu His Lys Glu Leu Asn Ser Lys Thr Val Met Ser Pro Ser Val 260 265 270 Val Asp Val Asn Thr Lys Phe Glu Asp Val Val Ser Ile Ser Asp Trp 275 280 285 Arg Gln Ser Ile Tyr Tyr Glu Val Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly 290 295 300 7 908 DNA Taxus cuspidata 7 ttctacccgt ttgcagggcg gctcagaaat aaagaaaatg gggaacttga agtggagtgc 60 acagggcagg gtgttctgtt tctggaagcc atggctgaca gcgacgtttc agtcttaaca 120 gatctggaag actacaatcc atcgtttcag cagttgcttt tttctctacc acaggataca 180 gatattgagg acctccatct cttgattgtt caggtgactc actttacatg tggggatttt 240 gttgtgggag cgaatgttta tggtagtgta tgtgacggaa aaggatttgg ccagtttctt 300 caaggtatgg cggagatggc gagaggagag gttaagccct cgattgaacc gatatggaat 360 agagaactgg tgaagccaga agatttaatg gccctccacg tggatcatct tcgaattata 420 cacacacctc taatcgagga gaaatttgtt caaacatctc ttgttataaa ctttgagata 480 ataaatcata tcagacgatg catcatggaa gaatgtaaag aaagtttctc ttcattcgaa 540 attgtagcag cattggtttg gctagcaaag ataaaagctt ttcgaattcc acatagtgag 600 aatgtgaaga ttctctttgc aatggacgtg aggagatcat ttaagccccc tcttccaaag 660 ggatactatg gcaatgccta tggtattgca tgtgcaatgg ataatgtcca ggatcttcta 720 agtggatctc ttttgcatgc tataatgatc ataaagaaat caaagttctc tttacacaaa 780 aaaatcaact caaaaactgt gatgagcccg tctccattag acgtcaatat gaagtttgaa 840 aatgtagttt caattactga ttggaggcat tctaaatatt atgaagtaga cttcgggtgg 900 ggtaaacc 908 8 302 PRT Taxus cuspidata 8 Phe Tyr Pro Phe Ala Gly Arg Leu Arg Asn Lys Glu Asn Gly Glu Leu 1 5 10 15 Glu Val Glu Cys Thr Gly Gln Gly Val Leu Phe Leu Glu Ala Met Ala 20 25 30 Asp Ser Asp Val Ser Val Leu Thr Asp Leu Glu Asp Tyr Asn Pro Ser 35 40 45 Phe Gln Gln Leu Leu Phe Ser Leu Pro Gln Asp Thr Asp Ile Glu Asp 50 55 60 Leu His Leu Leu Ile Val Gln Val Thr His Phe Thr Cys Gly Asp Phe 65 70 75 80 Val Val Gly Ala Asn Val Tyr Gly Ser Val Cys Asp Gly Lys Gly Phe 85 90 95 Gly Gln Phe Leu Gln Gly Met Ala Glu Met Ala Arg Gly Glu Val Lys 100 105 110 Pro Ser Ile Glu Pro Ile Trp Asn Arg Glu Leu Val Lys Pro Glu Asp 115 120 125 Leu Met Ala Leu His Val Asp His Leu Arg Ile Ile His Thr Pro Leu 130 135 140 Ile Glu Glu Lys Phe Val Gln Thr Ser Leu Val Ile Asn Phe Glu Ile 145 150 155 160 Ile Asn His Ile Arg Arg Cys Ile Met Glu Glu Cys Lys Glu Ser Phe 165 170 175 Ser Ser Phe Glu Ile Val Ala Ala Leu Val Trp Leu Ala Lys Ile Lys 180 185 190 Ala Phe Arg Ile Pro His Ser Glu Asn Val Lys Ile Leu Phe Ala Met 195 200 205 Asp Val Arg Arg Ser Phe Lys Pro Pro Leu Pro Lys Gly Tyr Tyr Gly 210 215 220 Asn Ala Tyr Gly Ile Ala Cys Ala Met Asp Asn Val Gln Asp Leu Leu 225 230 235 240 Ser Gly Ser Leu Leu His Ala Ile Met Ile Ile Lys Lys Ser Lys Phe 245 250 255 Ser Leu His Lys Lys Ile Asn Ser Lys Thr Val Met Ser Pro Ser Pro 260 265 270 Leu Asp Val Asn Met Lys Phe Glu Asn Val Val Ser Ile Thr Asp Trp 275 280 285 Arg His Ser Lys Tyr Tyr Glu Val Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Lys 290 295 300 9 1297 DNA Taxus cuspidata 9 atgggcaggt tcaatgtaga tatgattgag cgagtgatcg ggcgccatgc cttcaatcgc 60 ccaaaaatat cctgcacctc tcccccatta caacaaaact agaggactaa ccaacatatt 120 atcagtctac aatgcctcca gagagtttct gtttctgcag atcctgcaaa aacaattcga 180 gaggctcctc caaggtgctg gtttattatc ccccttttgc tggaaggctg agaaaccaga 240 aaatggggat cttgaagtgg agtgcacagg ggagggtgcc gtcttgtgga agccatggcg 300 gacaacgacc tttcagtatt acaagatttc aatggtacga tccatcattt cagcagctag 360 tttttaatct tcgagaggat gtcatattga ggacctccat cttctaactg ttcaggtaac 420 tcgttttaca tgggaggatt tgttgtgggc acaagattcc accatagtgt atctgatgga 480 aaggaatcgg ccagttactt aaaggcatgg gagagatggc aaggggggag ttaagccctc 540 gttagaacca atatggaata gagaaatggt gaagcctgag acattatgta cctccagttt 600 gatcactttg atttcataca cccacctcta atcttgagaa gtctattcaa gcatctatgg 660 taataagctt tgagagataa attatatcaa acgatgcatg atggaagaat gcaaagaatt 720 tttttcgcat ttgaagttgt agtagcattg atttggctgg caaggacaaa gtctttcgaa 780 ttccacccaa tgagtatgtg aaaattatct ttccaatcga catgggaatt catttgactc 840 ccctcttcca aagggatact atggtaatgc tatggtaatg catgtgcaat ggataatgtc 900 aaagacctct taaatggatc tctttatatg ctctaatgct tataaagaaa tcaaagtttg 960 ctttaaatga gatttcaaat caagaatctt gacaaaacca tctacattag atgcgaatat 1020 aagcatgaaa atgtagtcgg atgtggcgat tggaggaatt tgggattttt gaagcagatt 1080 ttggatgggg aaatgcagtg aatgtaagcc ccatgcagaa caaagagagc atgaattagc 1140 tatgcaaaat tattttcttt ttctccgtca gctaagaaca tgattgatgg aatcaagata 1200 ctaatgttca tgcctgatca atggtgaaac cattcaaaat tgaaatggaa gtcacaataa 1260 acaaaatgtg gctaaaatat gtaactctaa gttataa 1297 10 302 PRT Taxus cuspidata 10 Phe Tyr Pro Phe Ala Gly Arg Leu Arg Lys Lys Glu Asp Gly Asp Ile 1 5 10 15 Glu Val Val Cys Thr Glu Gln Gly Ala Leu Phe Val Glu Ala Val Ala 20 25 30 Asp Asn Asp Leu Ser Ala Val Arg Asp Leu Asp Glu Tyr Asn Pro Leu 35 40 45 Phe Arg Gln Leu Gln Ser Thr Leu Pro Leu Asp Thr Asp Cys Lys Asp 50 55 60 Leu His Leu Met Thr Val Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Thr Cys Gly Gly Phe 65 70 75 80 Val Met Gly Thr Ser Val His Gln Ser Ile Cys Asp Gly Asn Gly Leu 85 90 95 Gly Gln Phe Phe Lys Ser Met Ala Glu Met Val Arg Gly Glu Val Lys 100 105 110 Pro Ser Ile Glu Pro Val Trp Asn Arg Glu Leu Val Lys Pro Glu Asp 115 120 125 Tyr Ile His Leu Gln Leu Tyr Ile Gly Glu Phe Ile Arg Pro Pro Leu 130 135 140 Ala Phe Glu Lys Val Gly Gln Thr Ser Leu Ile Ile Ser Phe Glu Lys 145 150 155 160 Ile Asn His Ile Lys Arg Cys Ile Met Glu Glu Ser Lys Glu Ser Phe 165 170 175 Ser Ser Phe Glu Ile Val Thr Ala Leu Val Trp Leu Ala Arg Thr Arg 180 185 190 Ala Phe Gln Ile Pro His Asn Glu Asp Val Thr Leu Leu Leu Ala Met 195 200 205 Asp Ala Arg Arg Ser Phe Asp Pro Pro Ile Pro Lys Gly Tyr Tyr Gly 210 215 220 Asn Val Ile Gly Thr Ala Cys Ala Thr Asn Asn Val His Asn Leu Leu 225 230 235 240 Ser Gly Ser Leu Leu His Ala Leu Thr Ile Ile Lys Lys Ser Met Ser 245 250 255 Ser Phe Tyr Glu Asn Ile Thr Ser Arg Val Leu Val Asn Pro Ser Thr 260 265 270 Leu Asp Leu Ser Met Lys Tyr Glu Asn Val Val Thr Ile Ser Asp Trp 275 280 285 Arg Arg Leu Gly Tyr Asn Glu Val Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Lys 290 295 300 11 911 DNA Taxus cuspidata 11 ttctatccgt tcgcggggcg tctcaggaaa aaagaaaatg gagatcttga agtggagtgc 60 acaggggagg gtgctctgtt tgtggaagcc atggctgaca ctgacctctc agtcttagga 120 gatttggatg actacagtcc ttcacttgag caactacttt tttgtcttcc gcctgataca 180 gatattgagg acatccatcc tctggtggtt caggtaactc gttttacatg tggaggtttt 240 gttgtagggg tgagtttctg ccatggtata tgtgatggac taggagcagg ccagtttctt 300 atagccatgg gagagatggc aaggggagag attaagccct cctcggagcc aatatggaag 360 agagaattgc tgaagccgga agacccttta taccggttcc agtattatca ctttcaattg 420 atttgcccgc cttcaacatt cgggaaaata gttcaaggat ctcttgttat aacctctgag 480 acaataaatt gtatcaaaca atgccttagg gaagaaagta aagaattttg ctctgcgttc 540 gaagttgtat ctgcattggc ttggatagca aggacaaggg ctcttcaaat tccacatagt 600 gagaatgtga agcttatttt tgcaatggac atgagaaaat tatttaatcc accactttcg 660 aagggatact acggtaattt tgttggtacc gtatgtgcaa tggataatgt caaggaccta 720 ttaagtggat ctcttttgcg tgttgtaagg attataaaga aagcaaaggt ctctttaaat 780 gagcatttca cgtcaacaat cgtgacaccc cgttctggat cagatgagag tatcaattat 840 gaaaacatag ttggatttgg tgatcgaagg cgattgggat ttgatgaagt agactttggc 900 tggggcaaac c 911 12 303 PRT Taxus cuspidata 12 Phe Tyr Pro Phe Ala Gly Arg Leu Arg Lys Lys Glu Asn Gly Asp Leu 1 5 10 15 Glu Val Glu Cys Thr Gly Glu Gly Ala Leu Phe Val Glu Ala Met Ala 20 25 30 Asp Thr Asp Leu Ser Val Leu Gly Asp Leu Asp Asp Tyr Ser Pro Ser 35 40 45 Leu Glu Gln Leu Leu Phe Cys Leu Pro Pro Asp Thr Asp Ile Glu Asp 50 55 60 Ile His Pro Leu Val Val Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Thr Cys Gly Gly Phe 65 70 75 80 Val Val Gly Val Ser Phe Cys His Gly Ile Cys Asp Gly Leu Gly Ala 85 90 95 Gly Gln Phe Leu Ile Ala Met Gly Glu Met Ala Arg Gly Glu Ile Lys 100 105 110 Pro Ser Ser Glu Pro Ile Trp Lys Arg Glu Leu Leu Lys Pro Glu Asp 115 120 125 Pro Leu Tyr Arg Phe Gln Tyr Tyr His Phe Gln Leu Ile Cys Pro Pro 130 135 140 Ser Thr Phe Gly Lys Ile Val Gln Gly Ser Leu Val Ile Thr Ser Glu 145 150 155 160 Thr Ile Asn Cys Ile Lys Gln Cys Leu Arg Glu Glu Ser Lys Glu Phe 165 170 175 Cys Ser Ala Phe Glu Val Val Ser Ala Leu Ala Trp Ile Ala Arg Thr 180 185 190 Arg Ala Leu Gln Ile Pro His Ser Glu Asn Val Lys Leu Ile Phe Ala 195 200 205 Met Asp Met Arg Lys Leu Phe Asn Pro Pro Leu Ser Lys Gly Tyr Tyr 210 215 220 Gly Asn Phe Val Gly Thr Val Cys Ala Met Asp Asn Val Lys Asp Leu 225 230 235 240 Leu Ser Gly Ser Leu Leu Arg Val Val Arg Ile Ile Lys Lys Ala Lys 245 250 255 Val Ser Leu Asn Glu His Phe Thr Ser Thr Ile Val Thr Pro Arg Ser 260 265 270 Gly Ser Asp Glu Ser Ile Asn Tyr Glu Asn Ile Val Gly Phe Gly Asp 275 280 285 Arg Arg Arg Leu Gly Phe Asp Glu Val Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Lys 290 295 300 13 968 DNA Taxus cuspidata 13 ttttatccgt ttgcaggccg gctcagaaat aaagaaaatg gggaacttga agtggagtgc 60 acagggcagg gtgttctgtt tctggaagcc atggctgaca gcgacctttc agtcttaaca 120 gatctcgata actacaatcc atcgtttcag cagttgattt tttctctacc acaggataca 180 gatattgagg acctccatct cttgattgtt caggtaactc gttttacatg tgggggtttt 240 gttgtgggag cgaatgtgta tggtagtaca tgcgatgcaa aaggatttgg ccagtttctt 300 caaggtatgg cagagatggc gagaggagag gttaagccct cgattgaacc gatatggaat 360 aagagaactg gtgaagctag aagagaggtt aagccctcga ttgaaccgat atggaataag 420 agaactggtg aagctagaag attgtatgcc ctttccggga tgagtcatct tcaaattata 480 cacgcacctg taattgagga gaaatttgtt caaacatctc ttgttataaa ctttgagata 540 ataaatcata tcagacgacg catcatggaa gaatgcaaag aaagtttatc ttcatttgaa 600 attgtagcag cattggtttg gctagcaaag ataaaggctt ttcaaattcc acatagtgag 660 aatgtgaagc ttctttttgc aatggacttg aggagatcat ttaatccccc tcttccacat 720 ggatactatg gcaatgcctt tggtattgca tgtgcaatgg ataatgtcca tgaccttcta 780 agtggatctc ttttgcgcac tataatgatc ataaagaaat caaagttctc tttacacaaa 840 gaactcaact caaaaaccgt gatgagctcg tctgtagtag atgtcaatac gaagtttgaa 900 gatgtagttt caattagtga ttggaggcat tctatatatt atgaagtgga ctttggctgg 960 ggtaaacc 968 14 322 PRT Taxus cuspidata 14 Phe Tyr Pro Phe Ala Gly Arg Leu Arg Asn Lys Glu Asn Gly Glu Leu 1 5 10 15 Glu Val Glu Cys Thr Gly Gln Gly Val Leu Phe Leu Glu Ala Met Ala 20 25 30 Asp Ser Asp Leu Ser Val Leu Thr Asp Leu Asp Asn Tyr Asn Pro Ser 35 40 45 Phe Gln Gln Leu Ile Phe Ser Leu Pro Gln Asp Thr Asp Ile Glu Asp 50 55 60 Leu His Leu Leu Ile Val Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Thr Cys Gly Gly Phe 65 70 75 80 Val Val Gly Ala Asn Val Tyr Gly Ser Thr Cys Asp Ala Lys Gly Phe 85 90 95 Gly Gln Phe Leu Gln Gly Met Ala Glu Met Ala Arg Gly Glu Val Lys 100 105 110 Pro Ser Ile Glu Pro Ile Trp Asn Lys Arg Thr Gly Glu Ala Arg Arg 115 120 125 Glu Val Lys Pro Ser Ile Glu Pro Ile Trp Asn Lys Arg Thr Gly Glu 130 135 140 Ala Arg Arg Leu Tyr Ala Leu Ser Gly Met Ser His Leu Gln Ile Ile 145 150 155 160 His Ala Pro Val Ile Glu Glu Lys Phe Val Gln Thr Ser Leu Val Ile 165 170 175 Asn Phe Glu Ile Ile Asn His Ile Arg Arg Arg Ile Met Glu Glu Cys 180 185 190 Lys Glu Ser Leu Ser Ser Phe Glu Ile Val Ala Ala Leu Val Trp Leu 195 200 205 Ala Lys Ile Lys Ala Phe Gln Ile Pro His Ser Glu Asn Val Lys Leu 210 215 220 Leu Phe Ala Met Asp Leu Arg Arg Ser Phe Asn Pro Pro Leu Pro His 225 230 235 240 Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asn Ala Phe Gly Ile Ala Cys Ala Met Asp Asn Val 245 250 255 His Asp Leu Leu Ser Gly Ser Leu Leu Arg Thr Ile Met Ile Ile Lys 260 265 270 Lys Ser Lys Phe Ser Leu His Lys Glu Leu Asn Ser Lys Thr Val Met 275 280 285 Ser Ser Ser Val Val Asp Val Asn Thr Lys Phe Glu Asp Val Val Ser 290 295 300 Ile Ser Asp Trp Arg His Ser Ile Tyr Tyr Glu Val Asp Phe Gly Trp 305 310 315 320 Gly Lys 15 908 DNA Taxus cuspidata 15 ttttacccgt ttgcggggcg tctcagaaat aaagaaaatg gggatctgga agtggagtgt 60 acaggggagg gtgctgtgtt tgtggaagcc atggcggaca cagatctttc ttccttggga 120 gatttggatg ctcataatcc ttcatttcac cagctttctg tttcacctcc agtggattct 180 gatattgagg gcctccatct tgcagctctt caggtaactc gttttacatg tgggggtttt 240 gttctaggag taagtttgaa ccaaagtgtg tgcgatggaa aaggattggg aaattttctt 300 aaaggtgtgg cagagatggt gaggggaaaa gataagccct caattgaacc agtatggaat 360 agagaaatgg taaagtttga agactataca cgcctccaat tttatcacca tgaattcata 420 caaccacctt taatagatga gaaaattgtt caaaaatctc ttgttataaa cttggagaca 480 ataaatatta tcaaacgatg tattatggaa gaatatacaa aatttttctc tacattcgaa 540 atcgtagcag caatggtttg gctagcaaga acaaaagctt tcaaaattcc acatagtgaa 600 aatgcagagc ttctctttac aatggatatg agggaatcat ttaatccccc tcttccaaag 660 ggatactatg gtaatgttat gggtatagta tgtgcattgg ataatgtcaa acacctatta 720 agtggatcta ttttgcgtgc tgcaatggtt atacagaaat caaggttttt ctttacagag 780 aatttccggt taagatctat gacacaacca tctgcattga ctgtgaagat caagcacaaa 840 aatgtagttg catgtagtga ttggaggcaa tatggatatg atgaagtgga cttcggctgg 900 ggtaaacc 908 16 302 PRT Taxus cuspidata 16 Phe Tyr Pro Phe Ala Gly Arg Leu Arg Asn Lys Glu Asn Gly Asp Leu 1 5 10 15 Glu Val Glu Cys Thr Gly Glu Gly Ala Val Phe Val Glu Ala Met Ala 20 25 30 Asp Thr Asp Leu Ser Ser Leu Gly Asp Leu Asp Ala His Asn Pro Ser 35 40 45 Phe His Gln Leu Ser Val Ser Pro Pro Val Asp Ser Asp Ile Glu Gly 50 55 60 Leu His Leu Ala Ala Leu Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Thr Cys Gly Gly Phe 65 70 75 80 Val Leu Gly Val Ser Leu Asn Gln Ser Val Cys Asp Gly Lys Gly Leu 85 90 95 Gly Asn Phe Leu Lys Gly Val Ala Glu Met Val Arg Gly Lys Asp Lys 100 105 110 Pro Ser Ile Glu Pro Val Trp Asn Arg Glu Met Val Lys Phe Glu Asp 115 120 125 Tyr Thr Arg Leu Gln Phe Tyr His His Glu Phe Ile Gln Pro Pro Leu 130 135 140 Ile Asp Glu Lys Ile Val Gln Lys Ser Leu Val Ile Asn Leu Glu Thr 145 150 155 160 Ile Asn Ile Ile Lys Arg Cys Ile Met Glu Glu Tyr Thr Lys Phe Phe 165 170 175 Ser Thr Phe Glu Ile Val Ala Ala Met Val Trp Leu Ala Arg Thr Lys 180 185 190 Ala Phe Lys Ile Pro His Ser Glu Asn Ala Glu Leu Leu Phe Thr Met 195 200 205 Asp Met Arg Glu Ser Phe Asn Pro Pro Leu Pro Lys Gly Tyr Tyr Gly 210 215 220 Asn Val Met Gly Ile Val Cys Ala Leu Asp Asn Val Lys His Leu Leu 225 230 235 240 Ser Gly Ser Ile Leu Arg Ala Ala Met Val Ile Gln Lys Ser Arg Phe 245 250 255 Phe Phe Thr Glu Asn Phe Arg Leu Arg Ser Met Thr Gln Pro Ser Ala 260 265 270 Leu Thr Val Lys Ile Lys His Lys Asn Val Val Ala Cys Ser Asp Trp 275 280 285 Arg Gln Tyr Gly Tyr Asp Glu Val Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Lys 290 295 300 17 908 DNA Taxus cuspidata 17 ttctacccgt ttgcggggcg gatgagaaac aaaggagatg gggaactgga agtggattgc 60 acgggggaag gtgctctgtt tgtagaagcc atggcggacg acaacctttc agtgttggga 120 ggttttgatt accacaatcc agcatttggg aagctacttt actcactacc actggatacc 180 cctattcacg acctccatcc tctggttgtt caggtaactc gttttacctg cggggggttt 240 gttgtgggat taagtttgga ccatactata tgtgatggac gtggtgcagg tcaatttctt 300 aaagccctag cagaratggc gaggggagag gctaagccct cattggaacc aatatggaat 360 agagagttgt tgaagcccga agaccttata cgcctgcaat tttatcactt tgaatcgatg 420 cgtccacctc caatagttga agaaatggtt caatcatcta ttattataaa tgctgagaca 480 ataagtaata tsaaacaata cattatggaa gaatgtaaag aatcttgttc tgcatttgat 540 gtcgtaggag gattggcttg gctagccagg acaaaggctt ttcaaattcc acatacagag 600 aatgtgatgg ttatttttgc agtggatgcg aggagatcat ttgatccacc acttccaaag 660 ggttactatg gtaatgtcgt tggtaatgca tgtgcattgg ataatgttca agacctctta 720 aatggatctc ttttgcgtgc tacaatgatt ataaagaaat caaaggtatc tttaaaagag 780 aatataaggg caaaaacttt gacgatacca tctatagtag atgtgaatgt gaaacatgaa 840 aacatagttg gattaggcga tttgagacga ctgggattta atgaagtgga cttcggctgg 900 ggsaagcc 908 18 302 PRT Taxus cuspidata variation (164) Xaa is any amino acid. 18 Phe Tyr Pro Phe Ala Gly Arg Met Arg Asn Lys Gly Asp Gly Glu Leu 1 5 10 15 Glu Val Asp Cys Thr Gly Glu Gly Ala Leu Phe Val Glu Ala Met Ala 20 25 30 Asp Asp Asn Leu Ser Val Leu Gly Gly Phe Asp Tyr His Asn Pro Ala 35 40 45 Phe Gly Lys Leu Leu Tyr Ser Leu Pro Leu Asp Thr Pro Ile His Asp 50 55 60 Leu His Pro Leu Val Val Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Thr Cys Gly Gly Phe 65 70 75 80 Val Val Gly Leu Ser Leu Asp His Thr Ile Cys Asp Gly Arg Gly Ala 85 90 95 Gly Gln Phe Leu Lys Ala Leu Ala Glu Met Ala Arg Gly Glu Ala Lys 100 105 110 Pro Ser Leu Glu Pro Ile Met Asn Arg Glu Leu Leu Lys Pro Glu Asp 115 120 125 Leu Ile Arg Leu Gln Phe Tyr His Phe Glu Ser Met Arg Pro Pro Pro 130 135 140 Ile Val Glu Glu Met Val Gln Ser Ser Ile Ile Ile Asn Ala Glu Thr 145 150 155 160 Ile Ser Asn Xaa Lys Gln Tyr Ile Met Glu Glu Cys Lys Glu Ser Cys 165 170 175 Ser Ala Phe Asp Val Val Gly Gly Leu Ala Met Leu Ala Arg Thr Lys 180 185 190 Ala Phe Gln Ile Pro His Thr Glu Asn Val Met Val Ile Phe Ala Val 195 200 205 Asp Ala Arg Arg Ser Phe Asp Pro Pro Leu Pro Lys Gly Tyr Tyr Gly 210 215 220 Asn Val Val Gly Asn Ala Cys Ala Leu Asp Asn Val Gln Asp Leu Leu 225 230 235 240 Asn Gly Ser Leu Leu Arg Ala Thr Met Ile Ile Lys Lys Ser Lys Val 245 250 255 Ser Leu Lys Glu Asn Ile Arg Ala Lys Thr Leu Thr Ile Pro Ser Ile 260 265 270 Val Asp Val Asn Val Lys His Glu Asn Ile Val Gly Leu Gly Asp Leu 275 280 285 Arg Arg Leu Gly Phe Asn Glu Val Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Lys 290 295 300 19 911 DNA Taxus cuspidata 19 tactacccgc tggcaggacg gctcagaagt aaagaaattg gggaacttga agtggagtgc 60 acaggggatg gtgctctgtt tgtggaagcc atggtggaag acaccatttc agtcttacga 120 gatctggatg acctcaatcc atcatttcag cagttagttt tttggcatcc attggacact 180 gctattgagg atcttcatct tgtgattgtt caggtaacac gttttacatg tgggggcatt 240 gccgttggag tgactttgcc ccatagtgta tgtgatggac gtggagcacc ccagtttgtt 300 acagcactgg cagaaatggc gaggggagag gttaagccct tattagaacc aatatggaat 360 agagaattgt tgaaccctga agaccctcta catctccagt taaatcaatt tgattcgata 420 tgcccacctc caatgctcga ggaattgggt caagcttctt ttgttataaa tgttgacacc 480 atagaatata tgaaacaatg tgttatggag gaatgtaatg atttttgttc gtcctttgaa 540 gtagtggcag cattggtttg gatagcaagg acaaaggctc ttcaaattcc acatactgag 600 aatgtgaagc ttctctttgc gatggatttg aggaaattat ttaatccccc acttccaaat 660 ggatattatg gtaatgccat tggtactgca tatgcaatgg ataatgtcca agacctctta 720 aatggatctc ttttgcgtgc tataatgatt ataaaaaaag caaaggctga tttaaaagat 780 aattattcga ggtcaagggt agttacaaac ccaaattcat tagatgtgaa caagaaatcc 840 aacaacattc ttgcattgag tgactggagg cggttgggat tttatgaagc cgattttggc 900 tggggcaagc c 911 20 303 PRT Taxus cuspidata 20 Tyr Tyr Pro Leu Ala Gly Arg Leu Arg Ser Lys Glu Ile Gly Glu Leu 1 5 10 15 Glu Val Glu Cys Thr Gly Asp Gly Ala Leu Phe Val Glu Ala Met Val 20 25 30 Glu Asp Thr Ile Ser Val Leu Arg Asp Leu Asp Asp Leu Asn Pro Ser 35 40 45 Phe Gln Gln Leu Val Phe Trp His Pro Leu Asp Thr Ala Ile Glu Asp 50 55 60 Leu His Leu Val Ile Val Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Thr Cys Gly Gly Ile 65 70 75 80 Ala Val Gly Val Thr Leu Pro His Ser Val Cys Asp Gly Arg Gly Ala 85 90 95 Pro Gln Phe Val Thr Ala Leu Ala Glu Met Ala Arg Gly Glu Val Lys 100 105 110 Pro Leu Leu Glu Pro Ile Trp Asn Arg Glu Leu Leu Asn Pro Glu Asp 115 120 125 Pro Leu His Leu Gln Leu Asn Gln Phe Asp Ser Ile Cys Pro Pro Pro 130 135 140 Met Leu Glu Glu Leu Gly Gln Ala Ser Phe Val Ile Asn Val Asp Thr 145 150 155 160 Ile Glu Tyr Met Lys Gln Cys Val Met Glu Glu Cys Asn Asp Phe Cys 165 170 175 Ser Ser Phe Glu Val Val Ala Ala Leu Val Trp Ile Ala Arg Thr Lys 180 185 190 Ala Leu Gln Ile Pro His Thr Glu Asn Val Lys Leu Leu Phe Ala Met 195 200 205 Asp Leu Arg Lys Leu Phe Asn Pro Pro Leu Pro Asn Gly Tyr Tyr Gly 210 215 220 Asn Ala Ile Gly Thr Ala Tyr Ala Met Asp Asn Val Gln Asp Leu Leu 225 230 235 240 Asn Gly Ser Leu Leu Arg Ala Ile Met Ile Ile Lys Lys Ala Lys Ala 245 250 255 Asp Leu Lys Asp Asn Tyr Ser Arg Ser Arg Val Val Thr Asn Pro Asn 260 265 270 Ser Leu Asp Val Asn Lys Lys Ser Asn Asn Ile Leu Ala Leu Ser Asp 275 280 285 Trp Arg Arg Leu Gly Phe Tyr Glu Ala Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Lys 290 295 300 21 911 DNA Taxus cuspidata 21 tactacccgc tggcaggacg gctcagaagt aaagaaattg gggaacttga agtggagtgc 60 acaggggatg gtgctctgtt tgtggaagcc atggtggaag acaccatttc agtcttacga 120 gatctggatg acctcaatcc atcatttcag cagttagttt tttggcatcc attggacact 180 gctattgagg atcttcatct tgtgattgtt caggtaacac gttttacatg tgggggcatt 240 gccgttggag tgactttgcc ccatagtgta tgtgatggac gtggagcacc ccagtttgtt 300 acagcactgg cagaaatggc gaggggagag gttaagccct tattagaacc aatatggaat 360 agagaattgt tgaaccctga agaccctcta catctccagt taaatcaatt tgattcgata 420 tgcccacctc caatgctcga ggaattgggt caagcttctt ttgttataaa tgttgacacc 480 atagaatata tgaaacaatg tgttatggag gaatgtaatg atttttgttc gtcctttgaa 540 gtagtggcag cattggtttg gatagcaagg acaaaggctc ttcaaattcc acatactgag 600 aatgtgaagc ttctctttgc gatggatttg aggaaattat ttaatccccc acttccaaat 660 ggatattatg gtaatgccat tggtactgca tatgcaatgg ataatgtcca agacctctta 720 aatggatctc ttttgcgtgc tataatgatt ataaaaaaag caaaggctga tttaaaagat 780 aattattcga ggtcaagggt agttacaaac ccaaattcat tagatgtgaa caagaaatcc 840 aacaacattc ttgcattgag tgactggagg cggttgggat tttatgaagc cgattttggc 900 tggggcaagc c 911 22 306 PRT Taxus cuspidata 22 Tyr Tyr Pro Leu Ala Gly Arg Leu Glu Thr Cys Asp Gly Met Val Tyr 1 5 10 15 Ile Asp Cys Asn Asp Lys Gly Ala Glu Phe Ile Glu Ala Tyr Ala Ser 20 25 30 Pro Glu Leu Gly Val Ala Glu Ile Met Ala Asp Ser Phe Pro His Gln 35 40 45 Ile Phe Ala Phe Asn Gly Val Leu Asn Ile Asp Gly His Phe Met Pro 50 55 60 Leu Leu Ala Val Gln Ala Thr Lys Leu Lys Asp Gly Ile Ala Leu Ala 65 70 75 80 Ile Thr Val Asn His Ala Val Ala Asp Ala Thr Ser Val Trp His Phe 85 90 95 Ile Ser Ser Trp Ala Gln Leu Cys Lys Glu Pro Ser Asn Ile Pro Leu 100 105 110 Leu Pro Leu His Thr Arg Cys Phe Thr Thr Ile Ser Pro Ile Lys Leu 115 120 125 Asp Ile Gln Tyr Ser Ser Thr Thr Thr Glu Ser Ile Asp Asn Phe Phe 130 135 140 Pro Pro Pro Leu Thr Glu Lys Ile Phe His Phe Ser Gly Lys Thr Ile 145 150 155 160 Ser Arg Leu Lys Glu Glu Ala Met Glu Ala Cys Lys Asp Lys Ser Ile 165 170 175 Ser Ile Ser Ser Phe Gln Ala Leu Cys Gly His Leu Trp Gln Ser Ile 180 185 190 Thr Arg Ala Arg Gly Leu Ser Pro Ser Glu Pro Thr Thr Ile Lys Ile 195 200 205 Ala Val Asn Cys Arg Pro Arg Ile Val Pro Pro Leu Pro Asn Ser Tyr 210 215 220 Phe Gly Asn Ala Val Gln Val Val Asp Val Thr Met Thr Thr Glu Glu 225 230 235 240 Leu Leu Gly Asn Gly Gly Ala Cys Ala Ala Leu Ile Leu His Gln Lys 245 250 255 Ile Ser Ala His Gln Asp Thr Gln Ile Arg Ala Glu Leu Asp Lys Pro 260 265 270 Pro Lys Ile Val His Thr Asn Asn Leu Ile Pro Cys Asn Ile Ile Ala 275 280 285 Met Ala Gly Ser Pro Arg Phe Pro Ile Tyr Asn Asn Asp Phe Gly Trp 290 295 300 Gly Lys 305 23 908 DNA Taxus cuspidata 23 ttctacccgt tcgcggggcg gatcagacag aaagaaaatg aggaactgga agtggagtgc 60 acaggggagg gtgcactgtt tgtggaagcc gtggtggaca atgatctttc agtcttgaaa 120 gatttggatg cccaaaatgc atcttatgag cagttgctct tttcgcttcc gcccaataca 180 caggttcagg acctccatcc tctgattctt caggtaactc gttttaaatg tggaggtttt 240 gttgtgggag ttggtttcca ccatagtata tgtgacgcac gaggaggaac tcaatttctt 300 ctaggcctag cagatatggc aaggggagag actaagcctt tagtggaacc agtatggaat 360 agagaactga taaaccctga agatctaatg cacctccaat ttcataagtt tggtttgata 420 cgccaacctc taaaacttga tgaaatttgt caagcatctt ttactataaa ctcaaagata 480 ataaattaca tcaaacaatg tgttatagaa gaatgtaatg aaattttctc tgcatttgaa 540 gttgtagtag cattaacttg gatagcaagg acaaaggctt ttcaaattcc acatagtgag 600 aatgtgatga tgctctttgg aatggacgcg aggaaatatt ttaatccccc acttccaaag 660 ggatattatg gtaatgccat tggtacttca tgtgtaattg aaaatgtaca agacctctta 720 aatggatctc tttcgcgtgc tgtaatgatc acaaagaaat caaaggtccc tttaattgag 780 aatttaaggt caagaattgt ggcgaaccaa tctggagtag atgaggaaat taagcatgaa 840 aacgtagttg gatttggaga ttggaggcga ttgggatttc atgaagtgga cttcggctgg 900 ggcaagcc 908 24 302 PRT Taxus cuspidata 24 Phe Tyr Pro Phe Ala Gly Arg Ile Arg Gln Lys Glu Asn Glu Glu Leu 1 5 10 15 Glu Val Glu Cys Thr Gly Glu Gly Ala Leu Phe Val Glu Ala Val Val 20 25 30 Asp Asn Asp Leu Ser Val Leu Lys Asp Leu Asp Ala Gln Asn Ala Ser 35 40 45 Tyr Glu Gln Leu Leu Phe Ser Leu Pro Pro Asn Thr Gln Val Gln Asp 50 55 60 Leu His Pro Leu Ile Leu Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Lys Cys Gly Gly Phe 65 70 75 80 Val Val Gly Val Gly Phe His His Ser Ile Cys Asp Ala Arg Gly Gly 85 90 95 Thr Gln Phe Leu Leu Gly Leu Ala Asp Met Ala Arg Gly Glu Thr Lys 100 105 110 Pro Leu Val Glu Pro Val Trp Asn Arg Glu Leu Ile Asn Pro Glu Asp 115 120 125 Leu Met His Leu Gln Phe His Lys Phe Gly Leu Ile Arg Gln Pro Leu 130 135 140 Lys Leu Asp Glu Ile Cys Gln Ala Ser Phe Thr Ile Asn Ser Lys Ile 145 150 155 160 Ile Asn Tyr Ile Lys Gln Cys Val Ile Glu Glu Cys Asn Glu Ile Phe 165 170 175 Ser Ala Phe Glu Val Val Val Ala Leu Thr Trp Ile Ala Arg Thr Lys 180 185 190 Ala Phe Gln Ile Pro His Ser Glu Asn Val Met Met Leu Phe Gly Met 195 200 205 Asp Ala Arg Lys Tyr Phe Asn Pro Pro Leu Pro Lys Gly Tyr Tyr Gly 210 215 220 Asn Ala Ile Gly Thr Ser Cys Val Ile Glu Asn Val Gln Asp Leu Leu 225 230 235 240 Asn Gly Ser Leu Ser Arg Ala Val Met Ile Thr Lys Lys Ser Lys Val 245 250 255 Pro Leu Ile Glu Asn Leu Arg Ser Arg Ile Val Ala Asn Gln Ser Gly 260 265 270 Val Asp Glu Glu Ile Lys His Glu Asn Val Val Gly Phe Gly Asp Trp 275 280 285 Arg Arg Leu Gly Phe His Glu Val Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Lys 290 295 300 25 1320 DNA Taxus cuspidata 25 atgggcaggt tcaatgtaga tatgattgag cgagtgatcg tggcgccatg ccttcaatcg 60 cccaaaaata tcctgcacct ctcccccatt gacaacaaaa ctagaggact aaccaacata 120 ttatcagtct acaatgcctc ccagagagtt tctgtttctg cagatcctgc aaaaacaatt 180 cgagaggctc tctccaaggt gctggtttat tatccccctt ttgctggaag gctgagaaac 240 acagaaaatg gggatcttga agtggagtgc acaggggagg gtgccgtctt tgtggaagcc 300 atggcggaca acgacctttc agtattacaa gatttcaatg agtacgatcc atcatttcag 360 cagctagttt ttaatcttcg agaggatgtc aatattgagg acctccatct tctaactgtt 420 caggtaactc gttttacatg tggaggattt gttgtgggca caagattcca ccatagtgta 480 tctgatggaa aaggaatcgg ccagttactt aaaggcatgg gagagatggc aaggggggag 540 tttaagccct cgttagaacc aatatggaat agagaaatgg tgaagcctga agacattatg 600 tacctccagt ttgatcactt tgatttcata cacccacctc ttaatcttga gaagtctatt 660 caagcatcta tggtaataag ctttgagaga ataaattata tcaaacgatg catgatggaa 720 gaatgcaaag aatttttttc tgcatttgaa gttgtagtag cattgatttg gctggcaagg 780 acaaagtctt ttcgaattcc acccaatgag tatgtgaaaa ttatctttcc aatcgacatg 840 aggaattcat ttgactcccc tcttccaaag ggatactatg gtaatgctat tggtaatgca 900 tgtgcaatgg ataatgtcaa agacctctta aatggatctc ttttatatgc tctaatgctt 960 ataaagaaat caaagtttgc tttaaatgag aatttcaaat caagaatctt gacaaaacca 1020 tctacattag atgcgaatat gaagcatgaa aatgtagtcg gatgtggcga ttggaggaat 1080 ttgggatttt atgaagcaga ttttggatgg ggaaatgcag tgaatgtaag ccccatgcag 1140 caacaaagag agcatgaatt agctatgcaa aattattttc tttttctccg atcagctaag 1200 aacatgattg atggaatcaa gatactaatg ttcatgcctg catcaatggt gaaaccattc 1260 aaaattgaaa tggaagtcac aataaacaaa tatgtggcta aaatatgtaa ctctaagtta 1320 26 440 PRT Taxus cuspidata 26 Met Gly Arg Phe Asn Val Asp Met Ile Glu Arg Val Ile Val Ala Pro 1 5 10 15 Cys Leu Gln Ser Pro Lys Asn Ile Leu His Leu Ser Pro Ile Asp Asn 20 25 30 Lys Thr Arg Gly Leu Thr Asn Ile Leu Ser Val Tyr Asn Ala Ser Gln 35 40 45 Arg Val Ser Val Ser Ala Asp Pro Ala Lys Thr Ile Arg Glu Ala Leu 50 55 60 Ser Lys Val Leu Val Tyr Tyr Pro Pro Phe Ala Gly Arg Leu Arg Asn 65 70 75 80 Thr Glu Asn Gly Asp Leu Glu Val Glu Cys Thr Gly Glu Gly Ala Val 85 90 95 Phe Val Glu Ala Met Ala Asp Asn Asp Leu Ser Val Leu Gln Asp Phe 100 105 110 Asn Glu Tyr Asp Pro Ser Phe Gln Gln Leu Val Phe Asn Leu Arg Glu 115 120 125 Asp Val Asn Ile Glu Asp Leu His Leu Leu Thr Val Gln Val Thr Arg 130 135 140 Phe Thr Cys Gly Gly Phe Val Val Gly Thr Arg Phe His His Ser Val 145 150 155 160 Ser Asp Gly Lys Gly Ile Gly Gln Leu Leu Lys Gly Met Gly Glu Met 165 170 175 Ala Arg Gly Glu Phe Lys Pro Ser Leu Glu Pro Ile Trp Asn Arg Glu 180 185 190 Met Val Lys Pro Glu Asp Ile Met Tyr Leu Gln Phe Asp His Phe Asp 195 200 205 Phe Ile His Pro Pro Leu Asn Leu Glu Lys Ser Ile Gln Ala Ser Met 210 215 220 Val Ile Ser Phe Glu Arg Ile Asn Tyr Ile Lys Arg Cys Met Met Glu 225 230 235 240 Glu Cys Lys Glu Phe Phe Ser Ala Phe Glu Val Val Val Ala Leu Ile 245 250 255 Trp Leu Ala Arg Thr Lys Ser Phe Arg Ile Pro Pro Asn Glu Tyr Val 260 265 270 Lys Ile Ile Phe Pro Ile Asp Met Arg Asn Ser Phe Asp Ser Pro Leu 275 280 285 Pro Lys Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asn Ala Ile Gly Asn Ala Cys Ala Met Asp 290 295 300 Asn Val Lys Asp Leu Leu Asn Gly Ser Leu Leu Tyr Ala Leu Met Leu 305 310 315 320 Ile Lys Lys Ser Lys Phe Ala Leu Asn Glu Asn Phe Lys Ser Arg Ile 325 330 335 Leu Thr Lys Pro Ser Thr Leu Asp Ala Asn Met Lys His Glu Asn Val 340 345 350 Val Gly Cys Gly Asp Trp Arg Asn Leu Gly Phe Tyr Glu Ala Asp Phe 355 360 365 Gly Trp Gly Asn Ala Val Asn Val Ser Pro Met Gln Gln Gln Arg Glu 370 375 380 His Glu Leu Ala Met Gln Asn Tyr Phe Leu Phe Leu Arg Ser Ala Lys 385 390 395 400 Asn Met Ile Asp Gly Ile Lys Ile Leu Met Phe Met Pro Ala Ser Met 405 410 415 Val Lys Pro Phe Lys Ile Glu Met Glu Val Thr Ile Asn Lys Tyr Val 420 425 430 Ala Lys Ile Cys Asn Ser Lys Leu 435 440 27 1317 DNA Taxus cuspidata 27 atggagaaga cagatttaca cgtaaatctg attgagaaag tgatggttgg gccatccccg 60 cctctgccca aaaccaccct gcaactctcc tccatagaca acctgccagg ggtaagagga 120 agcattttca atgccttgtt aatttacaat gcctctccct ctcccaccat gatctctgca 180 gatcctgcaa aaccaattag agaagctctc gccaagatcc tggtttatta tccccctttt 240 gctgggcgcc tcagagagac agaaaatggg gatctggaag tggaatgcac aggggagggt 300 gctatgtttt tggaagccat ggcagacaat gagctgtctg tgttgggaga ttttgatgac 360 agcaatccat catttcagca gctacttttt tcgcttccac tcgataccaa tttcaaagac 420 ctctctcttc tggttgttca ggtaactcgt tttacatgtg gaggctttgt tgttggagtg 480 agtttccacc atggtgtatg tgatggtcga ggagcggccc aatttcttaa aggtttggca 540 gagatggcac ggggagaggt taagctctca ttggaaccaa tatggaatag ggaactagtg 600 aagcttgatg accctaaata ccttcaattt tttcactttg aattcctacg agcgccttca 660 attgttgaga aaattgttca aacatatttt attatagatt ttgagaccat aaattatatc 720 aaacaatctg ttatggaaga atgtaaagaa ttttgctctt cattcgaagt tgcatcagca 780 atgacttgga tagcaaggac aagagctttt caaattccag aaagtgagta cgtgaaaatt 840 ctcttcggaa tggacatgag gaactcattt aatccccctc ttccaagcgg atactatggt 900 aactccattg gtaccgcatg tgcagtggat aatgttcaag acctcttaag tggatctctt 960 ttgcgtgcta taatgattat aaagaaatca aaggtctctt taaatgataa tttcaagtca 1020 agagctgtgg tgaagccatc tgaattggat gtgaatatga atcatgaaaa cgtagttgca 1080 tttgctgatt ggagccgatt gggatttgat gaagtggatt ttggttgggg gaatgcggtg 1140 agtgtaagcc ctgtgcaaca acagtctgcg ttagcaatgc aaaattattt tcttttccta 1200 aaaccttcca agaacaagcc cgatggaatc aaaatattaa tgtttctgcc cctatcaaaa 1260 atgaagtcat tcaaaattga aatggaagcc atgatgaaaa aatatgtggc taaagta 1317 28 439 PRT Taxus cuspidata 28 Met Glu Lys Thr Asp Leu His Val Asn Leu Ile Glu Lys Val Met Val 1 5 10 15 Gly Pro Ser Pro Pro Leu Pro Lys Thr Thr Leu Gln Leu Ser Ser Ile 20 25 30 Asp Asn Leu Pro Gly Val Arg Gly Ser Ile Phe Asn Ala Leu Leu Ile 35 40 45 Tyr Asn Ala Ser Pro Ser Pro Thr Met Ile Ser Ala Asp Pro Ala Lys 50 55 60 Pro Ile Arg Glu Ala Leu Ala Lys Ile Leu Val Tyr Tyr Pro Pro Phe 65 70 75 80 Ala Gly Arg Leu Arg Glu Thr Glu Asn Gly Asp Leu Glu Val Glu Cys 85 90 95 Thr Gly Glu Gly Ala Met Phe Leu Glu Ala Met Ala Asp Asn Glu Leu 100 105 110 Ser Val Leu Gly Asp Phe Asp Asp Ser Asn Pro Ser Phe Gln Gln Leu 115 120 125 Leu Phe Ser Leu Pro Leu Asp Thr Asn Phe Lys Asp Leu Ser Leu Leu 130 135 140 Val Val Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Thr Cys Gly Gly Phe Val Val Gly Val 145 150 155 160 Ser Phe His His Gly Val Cys Asp Gly Arg Gly Ala Ala Gln Phe Leu 165 170 175 Lys Gly Leu Ala Glu Met Ala Arg Gly Glu Val Lys Leu Ser Leu Glu 180 185 190 Pro Ile Trp Asn Arg Glu Leu Val Lys Leu Asp Asp Pro Lys Tyr Leu 195 200 205 Gln Phe Phe His Phe Glu Phe Leu Arg Ala Pro Ser Ile Val Glu Lys 210 215 220 Ile Val Gln Thr Tyr Phe Ile Ile Asp Phe Glu Thr Ile Asn Tyr Ile 225 230 235 240 Lys Gln Ser Val Met Glu Glu Cys Lys Glu Phe Cys Ser Ser Phe Glu 245 250 255 Val Ala Ser Ala Met Thr Trp Ile Ala Arg Thr Arg Ala Phe Gln Ile 260 265 270 Pro Glu Ser Glu Tyr Val Lys Ile Leu Phe Gly Met Asp Met Arg Asn 275 280 285 Ser Phe Asn Pro Pro Leu Pro Ser Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asn Ser Ile Gly 290 295 300 Thr Ala Cys Ala Val Asp Asn Val Gln Asp Leu Leu Ser Gly Ser Leu 305 310 315 320 Leu Arg Ala Ile Met Ile Ile Lys Lys Ser Lys Val Ser Leu Asn Asp 325 330 335 Asn Phe Lys Ser Arg Ala Val Val Lys Pro Ser Glu Leu Asp Val Asn 340 345 350 Met Asn His Glu Asn Val Val Ala Phe Ala Asp Trp Ser Arg Leu Gly 355 360 365 Phe Asp Glu Val Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Asn Ala Val Ser Val Ser Pro 370 375 380 Val Gln Gln Gln Ser Ala Leu Ala Met Gln Asn Tyr Phe Leu Phe Leu 385 390 395 400 Lys Pro Ser Lys Asn Lys Pro Asp Gly Ile Lys Ile Leu Met Phe Leu 405 410 415 Pro Leu Ser Lys Met Lys Ser Phe Lys Ile Glu Met Glu Ala Met Met 420 425 430 Lys Lys Tyr Val Ala Lys Val 435 29 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence proteolytic fragment 29 Thr Thr Leu Gln Leu Ser Ser Ile Asp Asn Leu Pro Gly Val Arg 1 5 10 15 30 11 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequenceproteolytic fragment 30 Ile Leu Val Tyr Tyr Pro Pro Phe Ala Gly Arg 1 5 10 31 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequenceproteolytic fragment 31 Phe Thr Cys Gly Gly Phe Val Val Gly Val Ser Phe 1 5 10 32 12 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequenceproteolytic fragment 32 Lys Gly Leu Ala Glu Ile Ala Arg Gly Glu Val Lys 1 5 10 33 15 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequenceproteolytic fragment 33 Asn Leu Pro Asn Asp Thr Asn Pro Ser Ser Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asn 1 5 10 15 34 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial SequencePCR primer 34 atnntngtnt antanccncc 20 35 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence PCR primer 35 tantanccnc cnttngcngg 20 36 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial SequencePCR primer 36 ttntanccnt tngcnggnag 20 37 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial SequencePCR primer 37 tantanccnn tngcnggnng 20 38 20 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial SequencePCR primer 38 ctnaanccna ccccnttngg 20 39 7 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequenceconsensus sequence 39 Phe Tyr Pro Phe Ala Gly Arg 1 5 40 7 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequenceconsensus sequence 40 Tyr Tyr Pro Leu Ala Gly Arg 1 5 41 7 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequenceconsensus sequence 41 Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Lys Pro 1 5 42 24 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial SequencePCR primer 42 cctcatcttt cccccattga taat 24 43 27 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial SequencePCR primer 43 aaaaagaaaa taattttgcc atgcaag 27 44 1320 DNA Taxus cuspidata 44 atggcaggct caacagaatt tgtggtaaga agcttagaga gagtgatggt ggctccaagc 60 cagccatcgc ccaaagcttt cctgcagctc tccacccttg acaatctacc aggggtgaga 120 gaaaacattt ttaacacctt gttagtctac aatgcctcag acagagtttc cgtagatcct 180 gcaaaagtaa ttcggcaggc tctctccaag gtgttggtgt actattcccc ttttgcaggg 240 cgtctcagga aaaaagaaaa tggagatctt gaagtggagt gcacagggga gggtgctctg 300 tttgtggaag ccatggctga cactgacctc tcagtcttag gagatttgga tgactacagt 360 ccttcacttg agcaactact tttttgtctt ccgcctgata cagatattga ggacatccat 420 cctctggtgg ttcaggtaac tcgttttaca tgtggaggtt ttgttgtagg ggtgagtttc 480 tgccatggta tatgtgatgg actaggagca ggccagtttc ttatagccat gggagagatg 540 gcaaggggag agattaagcc ctcctcggag ccaatatgga agagagaatt gctgaagccg 600 gaagaccctt tataccggtt ccagtattat cactttcaat tgatttgccc gccttcaaca 660 ttcgggaaaa tagttcaagg atctcttgtt ataacctctg agacaataaa ttgtatcaaa 720 caatgcctta gggaagaaag taaagaattt tgctctgcgt tcgaagttgt atctgcattg 780 gcttggatag caaggacaag ggctcttcaa attccacata gtgagaatgt gaagcttatt 840 tttgcaatgg acatgagaaa attatttaat ccaccacttt cgaagggata ctacggtaat 900 tttgttggta ccgtatgtgc aatggataat gtcaaggacc tattaagtgg atctcttttg 960 cgtgttgtaa ggattataaa gaaagcaaag gtctctttaa atgagcattt cacgtcaaca 1020 atcgtgacac cccgttctgg atcagatgag agtatcaatt atgaaaacat agttggattt 1080 ggtgatcgaa ggcgattggg atttgatgaa gtagactttg ggtgggggca tgcagataat 1140 gtaagtctcg tgcaacatgg attgaaggat gtttcagtcg tgcaaagtta ttttcttttc 1200 atacgacctc ccaagaataa ccccgatgga atcaagatcc tatcgttcat gcccccgtca 1260 atagtgaaat ccttcaaatt tgaaatggaa accatgacaa acaaatatgt aactaagcct 1320 45 440 PRT Taxus cuspidata 45 Met Ala Gly Ser Thr Glu Phe Val Val Arg Ser Leu Glu Arg Val Met 1 5 10 15 Val Ala Pro Ser Gln Pro Ser Pro Lys Ala Phe Leu Gln Leu Ser Thr 20 25 30 Leu Asp Asn Leu Pro Gly Val Arg Glu Asn Ile Phe Asn Thr Leu Leu 35 40 45 Val Tyr Asn Ala Ser Asp Arg Val Ser Val Asp Pro Ala Lys Val Ile 50 55 60 Arg Gln Ala Leu Ser Lys Val Leu Val Tyr Tyr Ser Pro Phe Ala Gly 65 70 75 80 Arg Leu Arg Lys Lys Glu Asn Gly Asp Leu Glu Val Glu Cys Thr Gly 85 90 95 Glu Gly Ala Leu Phe Val Glu Ala Met Ala Asp Thr Asp Leu Ser Val 100 105 110 Leu Gly Asp Leu Asp Asp Tyr Ser Pro Ser Leu Glu Gln Leu Leu Phe 115 120 125 Cys Leu Pro Pro Asp Thr Asp Ile Glu Asp Ile His Pro Leu Val Val 130 135 140 Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Thr Cys Gly Gly Phe Val Val Gly Val Ser Phe 145 150 155 160 Cys His Gly Ile Cys Asp Gly Leu Gly Ala Gly Gln Phe Leu Ile Ala 165 170 175 Met Gly Glu Met Ala Arg Gly Glu Ile Lys Pro Ser Ser Glu Pro Ile 180 185 190 Trp Lys Arg Glu Leu Leu Lys Pro Glu Asp Pro Leu Tyr Arg Phe Gln 195 200 205 Tyr Tyr His Phe Gln Leu Ile Cys Pro Pro Ser Thr Phe Gly Lys Ile 210 215 220 Val Gln Gly Ser Leu Val Ile Thr Ser Glu Thr Ile Asn Cys Ile Lys 225 230 235 240 Gln Cys Leu Arg Glu Glu Ser Lys Glu Phe Cys Ser Ala Phe Glu Val 245 250 255 Val Ser Ala Leu Ala Trp Ile Ala Arg Thr Arg Ala Leu Gln Ile Pro 260 265 270 His Ser Glu Asn Val Lys Leu Ile Phe Ala Met Asp Met Arg Lys Leu 275 280 285 Phe Asn Pro Pro Leu Ser Lys Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asn Phe Val Gly Thr 290 295 300 Val Cys Ala Met Asp Asn Val Lys Asp Leu Leu Ser Gly Ser Leu Leu 305 310 315 320 Arg Val Val Arg Ile Ile Lys Lys Ala Lys Val Ser Leu Asn Glu His 325 330 335 Phe Thr Ser Thr Ile Val Thr Pro Arg Ser Gly Ser Asp Glu Ser Ile 340 345 350 Asn Tyr Glu Asn Ile Val Gly Phe Gly Asp Arg Arg Arg Leu Gly Phe 355 360 365 Asp Glu Val Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly His Ala Asp Asn Val Ser Leu Val 370 375 380 Gln His Gly Leu Lys Asp Val Ser Val Val Gln Ser Tyr Phe Leu Phe 385 390 395 400 Ile Arg Pro Pro Lys Asn Asn Pro Asp Gly Ile Lys Ile Leu Ser Phe 405 410 415 Met Pro Pro Ser Ile Val Lys Ser Phe Lys Phe Glu Met Glu Thr Met 420 425 430 Thr Asn Lys Tyr Val Thr Lys Pro 435 440 46 36 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 46 gggaattcca tatggcaggc tcaacagaat ttgtgg 36 47 32 DNA Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence PCR Primer 47 gtttatacat tgattcggaa ctagatctga tc 32 48 6 PRT Artificial Sequence Description of Artificial Sequence 6 amino acid motif found in acyl transferases 48 His Xaa Xaa Xaa Asp Gly 1 5 49 1332 DNA Taxus cuspidata 49 atggagaagt ctggttcagc agatctacat gtaaatatca ttgagcgagt ggtggtggcg 60 ccatgccagc cgacgcccaa aacaatcctg cagctctcta gcattgacaa aatgggagga 120 ggatttgcca acgtattgct agtcttcggt gcctcccatg gcgtttctgc agatcctgca 180 aaaacaattc gagaggctct ctccaagacc ttggtctttt atttcccttt tgctgggcgg 240 ctcagaaaga aagaagatgg ggatatcgaa gtggagtgca tagagcaggg agctctgttc 300 gtggaagcca tggcggacaa cgatctttca gtcgtacgag atctggatga gtacaatcca 360 ttatttcggc agctacaatc ttcgctttca ctggatacag attacaagga cctccatctt 420 atgactgttc aggtaactcc gtttacatgt gggggttttg tcatgggaac gagtgtacac 480 caaagtatat gcgatggaaa tggattgggg caatttttta aaagcatggc agagatagtg 540 aggggagaag ttaagccctc aatcgaacca atatggaata gagaattggt gaagcctgaa 600 gactatatac acctccagtt gtatgtcagt gaattcattc gcccaccttt agtagttgag 660 aaagttgggc aaacatctct tgttataagc ttcgagaaaa taaatcatat caaacgatgc 720 attatggaag aaagtaaaga atctttctct tcatttgaaa ttgtaacagc aatggtttgg 780 ctagcaagga caagggcttt tcaaattcca cacaacgagg atgtgactct tctccttgca 840 atggatgcaa ggagatcatt tgacccccct attccgaagg gatactacgg taatgtcatt 900 ggtactacat atgcaaaaga taatgtccac aacctcttaa gtggatctct tttgcatgct 960 ctaacagtta taaagaaatc aatgtcctca ttttatgaga atatgacctc aagagtcttg 1020 gtgaacccat ctacattaga tttgagtatg aagtatgaaa atgtagtttc acttagtgat 1080 tggagccggt tgggacataa tgaagtggac tttgggtggg gaaatgcaat aaatgtaagc 1140 actctgcaac aacaatggga aaatgaggta gctataccaa ctttttttac tttccttcaa 1200 actcccaaga atataccaga tggaatcaag atactaatgt tcatgccccc atcaagagag 1260 aaaacattcg aaattgaagt ggaagccatg ataagaaaat atttgactaa agtgtcgcat 1320 tcaaagctat aa 1332 50 443 PRT Taxus cuspidata 50 Met Glu Lys Ser Gly Ser Ala Asp Leu His Val Asn Ile Ile Glu Arg 1 5 10 15 Val Val Val Ala Pro Cys Gln Pro Thr Pro Lys Thr Ile Leu Gln Leu 20 25 30 Ser Ser Ile Asp Lys Met Gly Gly Gly Phe Ala Asn Val Leu Leu Val 35 40 45 Phe Gly Ala Ser His Gly Val Ser Ala Asp Pro Ala Lys Thr Ile Arg 50 55 60 Glu Ala Leu Ser Lys Thr Leu Val Phe Tyr Phe Pro Phe Ala Gly Arg 65 70 75 80 Leu Arg Lys Lys Glu Asp Gly Asp Ile Glu Val Glu Cys Ile Glu Gln 85 90 95 Gly Ala Leu Phe Val Glu Ala Met Ala Asp Asn Asp Leu Ser Val Val 100 105 110 Arg Asp Leu Asp Glu Tyr Asn Pro Leu Phe Arg Gln Leu Gln Ser Ser 115 120 125 Leu Ser Leu Asp Thr Asp Tyr Lys Asp Leu His Leu Met Thr Val Gln 130 135 140 Val Thr Pro Phe Thr Cys Gly Gly Phe Val Met Gly Thr Ser Val His 145 150 155 160 Gln Ser Ile Cys Asp Gly Asn Gly Leu Gly Gln Phe Phe Lys Ser Met 165 170 175 Ala Glu Ile Val Arg Gly Glu Val Lys Pro Ser Ile Glu Pro Ile Trp 180 185 190 Asn Arg Glu Leu Val Lys Pro Glu Asp Tyr Ile His Leu Gln Leu Tyr 195 200 205 Val Ser Glu Phe Ile Arg Pro Pro Leu Val Val Glu Lys Val Gly Gln 210 215 220 Thr Ser Leu Val Ile Ser Phe Glu Lys Ile Asn His Ile Lys Arg Cys 225 230 235 240 Ile Met Glu Glu Ser Lys Glu Ser Phe Ser Ser Phe Glu Ile Val Thr 245 250 255 Ala Met Val Trp Leu Ala Arg Thr Arg Ala Phe Gln Ile Pro His Asn 260 265 270 Glu Asp Val Thr Leu Leu Leu Ala Met Asp Ala Arg Arg Ser Phe Asp 275 280 285 Pro Pro Ile Pro Lys Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asn Val Ile Gly Thr Thr Tyr 290 295 300 Ala Lys Asp Asn Val His Asn Leu Leu Ser Gly Ser Leu Leu His Ala 305 310 315 320 Leu Thr Val Ile Lys Lys Ser Met Ser Ser Phe Tyr Glu Asn Met Thr 325 330 335 Ser Arg Val Leu Val Asn Pro Ser Thr Leu Asp Leu Ser Met Lys Tyr 340 345 350 Glu Asn Val Val Ser Leu Ser Asp Trp Ser Arg Leu Gly His Asn Glu 355 360 365 Val Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Asn Ala Ile Asn Val Ser Thr Leu Gln Gln 370 375 380 Gln Trp Glu Asn Glu Val Ala Ile Pro Thr Phe Phe Thr Phe Leu Gln 385 390 395 400 Thr Pro Lys Asn Ile Pro Asp Gly Ile Lys Ile Leu Met Phe Met Pro 405 410 415 Pro Ser Arg Glu Lys Thr Phe Glu Ile Glu Val Glu Ala Met Ile Arg 420 425 430 Lys Tyr Leu Thr Lys Val Ser His Ser Lys Leu 435 440 51 1338 DNA Taxus cuspidata 51 atgaagaaga caggttcgtt tgcagagttc catgtgaata tgattgagcg agtcatggtg 60 agaccgtgcc tgccttcgcc caaaacaatc ctccctctct ccgccattga caacatggca 120 agagcttttt ctaacgtatt gctggtctac gctgccaaca tggacagagt ctctgcagat 180 cctgcaaaag tgattcgaga ggctctctcc aaggtgctgg tttattatta cccttttgct 240 gggcggctca gaaataaaga aaatggggaa cttgaagtgg agtgcacagg gcagggtgtt 300 ctgtttctgg aagccatggc tgacagcgac ctttcagtct taacagatct ggataactac 360 aatccatcgt ttcagcagtt gattttttct ctaccacagg atacagatat tgaggacctc 420 catctcttga ttgttcaggt aactcgtttt acatgtgggg gttttgttgt gggagcgaat 480 gtgtatggta gtgcatgcga tgcaaaagga tttggccagt ttcttcaaag tatggcagag 540 atggcgagag gagaggttaa gccctcgatt gaaccgatat ggaatagaga actggtgaag 600 ctagaacatt gtatgccctt ccggatgagt catcttcaaa ttatacatgc acctgtaatt 660 gaggagaaat ttgttcaaac atctcttgtt ataaactttg agataataaa tcatatcaga 720 cgacgcatca tggaagaacg caaagaaagt ttatcttcat ttgaaattgt agcagcattg 780 gtttggctag caaagataaa ggcttttcaa attccacata gtgagaatgt gaagcttctt 840 tttgcaatgg acttgaggag atcatttaat ccccctcttc cacatggata ctatggcaat 900 gcctttggta ttgcatgtgc aatggataat gtccatgacc ttctaagtgg atctcttttg 960 cgcactataa tgatcataaa gaaatcaaag ttctctttac acaaagaact caactcaaaa 1020 accgtgatga gctcatctgt agtagatgtc aatacgaagt ttgaagatgt agtttcaatt 1080 agtgattgga ggcattctat atattatgaa gtggactttg ggtggggaga tgcaatgaac 1140 gtgagcacta tgctacaaca acaggagcac gagaaatctc tgccaactta tttttctttc 1200 ctacaatcta ctaagaacat gccagatgga atcaagatgc taatgtttat gcctccatca 1260 aaactgaaaa aattcaaaat tgaaatagaa gctatgataa aaaaatatgt gactaaagtg 1320 tgtccgtcaa agttatga 1338 52 445 PRT Taxus cuspidata 52 Met Lys Lys Thr Gly Ser Phe Ala Glu Phe His Val Asn Met Ile Glu 1 5 10 15 Arg Val Met Val Arg Pro Cys Leu Pro Ser Pro Lys Thr Ile Leu Pro 20 25 30 Leu Ser Ala Ile Asp Asn Met Ala Arg Ala Phe Ser Asn Val Leu Leu 35 40 45 Val Tyr Ala Ala Asn Met Asp Arg Val Ser Ala Asp Pro Ala Lys Val 50 55 60 Ile Arg Glu Ala Leu Ser Lys Val Leu Val Tyr Tyr Tyr Pro Phe Ala 65 70 75 80 Gly Arg Leu Arg Asn Lys Glu Asn Gly Glu Leu Glu Val Glu Cys Thr 85 90 95 Gly Gln Gly Val Leu Phe Leu Glu Ala Met Ala Asp Ser Asp Leu Ser 100 105 110 Val Leu Thr Asp Leu Asp Asn Tyr Asn Pro Ser Phe Gln Gln Leu Ile 115 120 125 Phe Ser Leu Pro Gln Asp Thr Asp Ile Glu Asp Leu His Leu Leu Ile 130 135 140 Val Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Thr Cys Gly Gly Phe Val Val Gly Ala Asn 145 150 155 160 Val Tyr Gly Ser Ala Cys Asp Ala Lys Gly Phe Gly Gln Phe Leu Gln 165 170 175 Ser Met Ala Glu Met Ala Arg Gly Glu Val Lys Pro Ser Ile Glu Pro 180 185 190 Ile Trp Asn Arg Glu Leu Val Lys Leu Glu His Cys Met Pro Phe Arg 195 200 205 Met Ser His Leu Gln Ile Ile His Ala Pro Val Ile Glu Glu Lys Phe 210 215 220 Val Gln Thr Ser Leu Val Ile Asn Phe Glu Ile Ile Asn His Ile Arg 225 230 235 240 Arg Arg Ile Met Glu Glu Arg Lys Glu Ser Leu Ser Ser Phe Glu Ile 245 250 255 Val Ala Ala Leu Val Trp Leu Ala Lys Ile Lys Ala Phe Gln Ile Pro 260 265 270 His Ser Glu Asn Val Lys Leu Leu Phe Ala Met Asp Leu Arg Arg Ser 275 280 285 Phe Asn Pro Pro Leu Pro His Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asn Ala Phe Gly Ile 290 295 300 Ala Cys Ala Met Asp Asn Val His Asp Leu Leu Ser Gly Ser Leu Leu 305 310 315 320 Arg Thr Ile Met Ile Ile Lys Lys Ser Lys Phe Ser Leu His Lys Glu 325 330 335 Leu Asn Ser Lys Thr Val Met Ser Ser Ser Val Val Asp Val Asn Thr 340 345 350 Lys Phe Glu Asp Val Val Ser Ile Ser Asp Trp Arg His Ser Ile Tyr 355 360 365 Tyr Glu Val Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Asp Ala Met Asn Val Ser Thr Met 370 375 380 Leu Gln Gln Gln Glu His Glu Lys Ser Leu Pro Thr Tyr Phe Ser Phe 385 390 395 400 Leu Gln Ser Thr Lys Asn Met Pro Asp Gly Ile Lys Met Leu Met Phe 405 410 415 Met Pro Pro Ser Lys Leu Lys Lys Phe Lys Ile Glu Ile Glu Ala Met 420 425 430 Ile Lys Lys Tyr Val Thr Lys Val Cys Pro Ser Lys Leu 435 440 445 53 1326 DNA Taxus cuspidata 53 atggagaagg caggctcaac agacttccat gtaaagaaat ttgatccagt catggtagcc 60 ccaagccttc catcgcccaa agctaccgtc cagctctctg tcgttgatag cctaacaatc 120 tgcaggggaa tttttaacac gttgttggtt ttcaatgccc ctgacaacat ttctgcagat 180 cctgtaaaaa taattagaga ggctctctcc aaggtgttgg tgtattattt ccctcttgct 240 gggcggctca gaagtaaaga aattggggaa cttgaagtgg agtgcacagg ggatggtgct 300 ctgtttgtgg aagccatggt ggaagacacc atttcagtct tacgagatct ggatgacctc 360 aatccatcat ttcagcagtt agttttttgg catccattgg acactgctat tgaggatctt 420 catcttgtga ttgttcaggt aacacgtttt acatgtgggg gcattgccgt tggagtgact 480 ttgccccata gtgtatgtga tggacgtgga gcagcccagt ttgttacagc actggcagag 540 atggcgaggg gagaggttaa gccctcacta gaaccaatat ggaatagaga attgttgaac 600 cctgaagacc ctctacatct ccagttaaat caatttgatt cgatatgccc acctccaatg 660 ctggaggaat tgggtcaagc ttcttttgtt ataaacgttg acaccataga atatatgaag 720 caatgtgtca tggaggaatg taatgaattt tgttcgtctt ttgaagtagt ggcagcattg 780 gtttggatag cacggacaaa ggctcttcaa attccacata ctgagaatgt gaagcttctc 840 tttgcgatgg atttgaggaa attatttaat cccccacttc caaatggata ttatggtaat 900 gccattggta ctgcatatgc aatggataat gtccaagacc tcttaaatgg atctcttttg 960 cgtgctataa tgattataaa aaaagcaaag gctgatttaa aagataatta ttcgaggtca 1020 agggtagtta caaacccata ttcattagat gtgaacaaga aatccgacaa cattcttgca 1080 ttgagtgact ggaggcggtt gggattttat gaagccgatt ttgggtgggg aggtccactg 1140 aatgtaagtt ccctgcaacg gttggaaaat ggattgccta tgtttagtac ttttctatac 1200 ctactacctg ccaaaaacaa gtctgatgga atcaagctgc tactgtcttg tatgccacca 1260 acaacattga aatcatttaa aattgtaatg gaagctatga tagagaaata tgtaagtaaa 1320 gtgtga 1326 54 441 PRT Taxus cuspidata 54 Met Glu Lys Ala Gly Ser Thr Asp Phe His Val Lys Lys Phe Asp Pro 1 5 10 15 Val Met Val Ala Pro Ser Leu Pro Ser Pro Lys Ala Thr Val Gln Leu 20 25 30 Ser Val Val Asp Ser Leu Thr Ile Cys Arg Gly Ile Phe Asn Thr Leu 35 40 45 Leu Val Phe Asn Ala Pro Asp Asn Ile Ser Ala Asp Pro Val Lys Ile 50 55 60 Ile Arg Glu Ala Leu Ser Lys Val Leu Val Tyr Tyr Phe Pro Leu Ala 65 70 75 80 Gly Arg Leu Arg Ser Lys Glu Ile Gly Glu Leu Glu Val Glu Cys Thr 85 90 95 Gly Asp Gly Ala Leu Phe Val Glu Ala Met Val Glu Asp Thr Ile Ser 100 105 110 Val Leu Arg Asp Leu Asp Asp Leu Asn Pro Ser Phe Gln Gln Leu Val 115 120 125 Phe Trp His Pro Leu Asp Thr Ala Ile Glu Asp Leu His Leu Val Ile 130 135 140 Val Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Thr Cys Gly Gly Ile Ala Val Gly Val Thr 145 150 155 160 Leu Pro His Ser Val Cys Asp Gly Arg Gly Ala Ala Gln Phe Val Thr 165 170 175 Ala Leu Ala Glu Met Ala Arg Gly Glu Val Lys Pro Ser Leu Glu Pro 180 185 190 Ile Trp Asn Arg Glu Leu Leu Asn Pro Glu Asp Pro Leu His Leu Gln 195 200 205 Leu Asn Gln Phe Asp Ser Ile Cys Pro Pro Pro Met Leu Glu Glu Leu 210 215 220 Gly Gln Ala Ser Phe Val Ile Asn Val Asp Thr Ile Glu Tyr Met Lys 225 230 235 240 Gln Cys Val Met Glu Glu Cys Asn Glu Phe Cys Ser Ser Phe Glu Val 245 250 255 Val Ala Ala Leu Val Trp Ile Ala Arg Thr Lys Ala Leu Gln Ile Pro 260 265 270 His Thr Glu Asn Val Lys Leu Leu Phe Ala Met Asp Leu Arg Lys Leu 275 280 285 Phe Asn Pro Pro Leu Pro Asn Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asn Ala Ile Gly Thr 290 295 300 Ala Tyr Ala Met Asp Asn Val Gln Asp Leu Leu Asn Gly Ser Leu Leu 305 310 315 320 Arg Ala Ile Met Ile Ile Lys Lys Ala Lys Ala Asp Leu Lys Asp Asn 325 330 335 Tyr Ser Arg Ser Arg Val Val Thr Asn Pro Tyr Ser Leu Asp Val Asn 340 345 350 Lys Lys Ser Asp Asn Ile Leu Ala Leu Ser Asp Trp Arg Arg Leu Gly 355 360 365 Phe Tyr Glu Ala Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Gly Pro Leu Asn Val Ser Ser 370 375 380 Leu Gln Arg Leu Glu Asn Gly Leu Pro Met Phe Ser Thr Phe Leu Tyr 385 390 395 400 Leu Leu Pro Ala Lys Asn Lys Ser Asp Gly Ile Lys Leu Leu Leu Ser 405 410 415 Cys Met Pro Pro Thr Thr Leu Lys Ser Phe Lys Ile Val Met Glu Ala 420 425 430 Met Ile Glu Lys Tyr Val Ser Lys Val 435 440 55 1347 DNA Taxus cuspidata 55 atggagaagg gaaatgcgag tgatgtgcca gaattgcatg tacagatctg tgagcgggtg 60 atggtgaaac catgcgtgcc ttctccttcg ccaaatcttg tcctccagct ctccgcggtg 120 gacagactgc cagggatgaa gtttgctact tttagcgccg tgttagtcta caatgccagc 180 tctcactcca tttttgcaaa tcctgcacag attattcggc aggctctctc caaggtgttg 240 cagtattatc ccgcttttgc cgggcggatc agacagaaag aaaatgagga actggaagtg 300 gagtgcacag gggagggtgc gctgtttgtg gaagccctgg tcgacaatga tctttcagtc 360 ttgcgagatt tggatgccca aaatgcatct tatgagcagt tgctcttttc gcttccgccc 420 aatatacagg ttcaggacct ccatcctctg attcttcagg taactcgttt tacgtgtgga 480 ggttttgttg tgggagtagg ttttcaccat ggtatatgcg acgcacgagg aggaactcaa 540 tttcttcaag gcctagcaga tatggcaagg ggagagacta agcctttagt ggaaccagta 600 tggaatagag aactgataaa gcccgaagat ctaatgcacc tccaatttca taagtttggt 660 ttgatacgcc aacctctaaa acttgatgaa atttgtcaag catcttttac tataaactca 720 gagataataa attacatcaa acaatgtgtt atagaagaat gtaacgaaat tttctctgca 780 tttgaagttg tagtagcatt aacttggata gcaaggacaa aggcttttca aattccacat 840 aatgagaatg tgatgatgct ctttggaatg gacgcgagga aatattttaa tcccccactt 900 ccaaagggat attatggtaa tgccattggt acttcatgtg taattgaaaa tgtacaagac 960 ctcttaaatg gatctctttc gcgtgctgta atgattacaa agaaatcaaa gatcccttta 1020 attgagaatt taaggtcaag aattgtggcg aaccaatctg gagtagatga ggaaattaag 1080 catgaaaacg tagttggatt tggagattgg aggcgattgg gatttcatga agtggacttc 1140 ggatcgggag atgcagtgaa catcagcccc atacaacaac gactagagga tgatcaattg 1200 gctatgcgaa attattttct tttccttcga ccttacaagg acatgcctaa tggaatcaaa 1260 atactaatgt tcatggatcc atcaagagtg aaattattca aagatgaaat ggaagccatg 1320 ataattaaat atatgccgaa agcctaa 1347 56 448 PRT Taxus cuspidata 56 Met Glu Lys Gly Asn Ala Ser Asp Val Pro Glu Leu His Val Gln Ile 1 5 10 15 Cys Glu Arg Val Met Val Lys Pro Cys Val Pro Ser Pro Ser Pro Asn 20 25 30 Leu Val Leu Gln Leu Ser Ala Val Asp Arg Leu Pro Gly Met Lys Phe 35 40 45 Ala Thr Phe Ser Ala Val Leu Val Tyr Asn Ala Ser Ser His Ser Ile 50 55 60 Phe Ala Asn Pro Ala Gln Ile Ile Arg Gln Ala Leu Ser Lys Val Leu 65 70 75 80 Gln Tyr Tyr Pro Ala Phe Ala Gly Arg Ile Arg Gln Lys Glu Asn Glu 85 90 95 Glu Leu Glu Val Glu Cys Thr Gly Glu Gly Ala Leu Phe Val Glu Ala 100 105 110 Leu Val Asp Asn Asp Leu Ser Val Leu Arg Asp Leu Asp Ala Gln Asn 115 120 125 Ala Ser Tyr Glu Gln Leu Leu Phe Ser Leu Pro Pro Asn Ile Gln Val 130 135 140 Gln Asp Leu His Pro Leu Ile Leu Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Thr Cys Gly 145 150 155 160 Gly Phe Val Val Gly Val Gly Phe His His Gly Ile Cys Asp Ala Arg 165 170 175 Gly Gly Thr Gln Phe Leu Gln Gly Leu Ala Asp Met Ala Arg Gly Glu 180 185 190 Thr Lys Pro Leu Val Glu Pro Val Trp Asn Arg Glu Leu Ile Lys Pro 195 200 205 Glu Asp Leu Met His Leu Gln Phe His Lys Phe Gly Leu Ile Arg Gln 210 215 220 Pro Leu Lys Leu Asp Glu Ile Cys Gln Ala Ser Phe Thr Ile Asn Ser 225 230 235 240 Glu Ile Ile Asn Tyr Ile Lys Gln Cys Val Ile Glu Glu Cys Asn Glu 245 250 255 Ile Phe Ser Ala Phe Glu Val Val Val Ala Leu Thr Trp Ile Ala Arg 260 265 270 Thr Lys Ala Phe Gln Ile Pro His Asn Glu Asn Val Met Met Leu Phe 275 280 285 Gly Met Asp Ala Arg Lys Tyr Phe Asn Pro Pro Leu Pro Lys Gly Tyr 290 295 300 Tyr Gly Asn Ala Ile Gly Thr Ser Cys Val Ile Glu Asn Val Gln Asp 305 310 315 320 Leu Leu Asn Gly Ser Leu Ser Arg Ala Val Met Ile Thr Lys Lys Ser 325 330 335 Lys Ile Pro Leu Ile Glu Asn Leu Arg Ser Arg Ile Val Ala Asn Gln 340 345 350 Ser Gly Val Asp Glu Glu Ile Lys His Glu Asn Val Val Gly Phe Gly 355 360 365 Asp Trp Arg Arg Leu Gly Phe His Glu Val Asp Phe Gly Ser Gly Asp 370 375 380 Ala Val Asn Ile Ser Pro Ile Gln Gln Arg Leu Glu Asp Asp Gln Leu 385 390 395 400 Ala Met Arg Asn Tyr Phe Leu Phe Leu Arg Pro Tyr Lys Asp Met Pro 405 410 415 Asn Gly Ile Lys Ile Leu Met Phe Met Asp Pro Ser Arg Val Lys Leu 420 425 430 Phe Lys Asp Glu Met Glu Ala Met Ile Ile Lys Tyr Met Pro Lys Ala 435 440 445 57 1317 DNA Taxus cuspidata 57 atggagaagt tacatgtgga tatcattgag agagtgaagg tggcgccatg ccttccatcg 60 tccaaagaaa ttctccagct ctccagcctc gacaacatac tcagatgtta tgtcagcgta 120 ttgttcgtct acgacagggt ttcaactgtt tctgcaaatc ctgcaaaaac aattcgagag 180 gctctctcca aggttttggt ttattattca ccttttgctg gaaggctcag aaacaaagaa 240 aatggggatc ttgaagtgga gtgcagtggg gagggtgctg tctttgtgga agccatggcg 300 gacaacgagc tttcagtctt acaagatttg gatgagtact gtacatcgct taaacagcta 360 atttttacag taccaatgga tacgaaaatt gaagacctcc atcttctaag tgttcaggta 420 actagtttta catgtggggg atttgttgtg ggaataagtt tctaccatac tatatgtgat 480 ggaaaaggac tgggccagtt tcttcaaggc atgagtgaga tttccaaggg agcatttaaa 540 ccctcactag aaccagtatg gaatagagaa atggtgaagc ctgaacacct tatgttcctc 600 cagtttaata attttgaatt cgtaccacat cctcttaaat ttaagaagat tgttaaagca 660 tctattgaaa ttaactttga gacaataaat tgtttcaagc aatgcatgat ggaagaatgt 720 aaagaaaatt tctctacatt tgaaattgta gcagcactga tttggctagc caagacaaag 780 tctttccaaa ttccagatag tgagaatgtg aaacttatgt ttgcagtcga catgaggaca 840 tcgtttgacc cccctcttcc aaagggatat tatggtaatg ttattggtat tgcaggtgca 900 atagataatg tcaaagaact cttaagtgga tcaattttgc gtgctctaat tattatccaa 960 aagacaattt tctctttaaa agataatttc atatcaagaa gattgatgaa accatctaca 1020 ttggatgtga atatgaagca tgaaaatgta gttctcttag gggattggag gaatttggga 1080 tattatgagg cagattgtgg gtgtggaaat ctatcaaatg taattcccat ggatcaacaa 1140 atagagcatg agtcacctgt gcaaagtaga tttatgttgc ttcgatcatc caagaacatg 1200 caaaatggaa tcaagatact aatgtccatg cctgaatcaa tggcgaaacc attcaaaagt 1260 gaaatgaaat tcacaataaa aaaatatgtg actggagcgt gtttctctga gttatga 1317 58 438 PRT Taxus cuspidata 58 Met Glu Lys Leu His Val Asp Ile Ile Glu Arg Val Lys Val Ala Pro 1 5 10 15 Cys Leu Pro Ser Ser Lys Glu Ile Leu Gln Leu Ser Ser Leu Asp Asn 20 25 30 Ile Leu Arg Cys Tyr Val Ser Val Leu Phe Val Tyr Asp Arg Val Ser 35 40 45 Thr Val Ser Ala Asn Pro Ala Lys Thr Ile Arg Glu Ala Leu Ser Lys 50 55 60 Val Leu Val Tyr Tyr Ser Pro Phe Ala Gly Arg Leu Arg Asn Lys Glu 65 70 75 80 Asn Gly Asp Leu Glu Val Glu Cys Ser Gly Glu Gly Ala Val Phe Val 85 90 95 Glu Ala Met Ala Asp Asn Glu Leu Ser Val Leu Gln Asp Leu Asp Glu 100 105 110 Tyr Cys Thr Ser Leu Lys Gln Leu Ile Phe Thr Val Pro Met Asp Thr 115 120 125 Lys Ile Glu Asp Leu His Leu Leu Ser Val Gln Val Thr Ser Phe Thr 130 135 140 Cys Gly Gly Phe Val Val Gly Ile Ser Phe Tyr His Thr Ile Cys Asp 145 150 155 160 Gly Lys Gly Leu Gly Gln Phe Leu Gln Gly Met Ser Glu Ile Ser Lys 165 170 175 Gly Ala Phe Lys Pro Ser Leu Glu Pro Val Trp Asn Arg Glu Met Val 180 185 190 Lys Pro Glu His Leu Met Phe Leu Gln Phe Asn Asn Phe Glu Phe Val 195 200 205 Pro His Pro Leu Lys Phe Lys Lys Ile Val Lys Ala Ser Ile Glu Ile 210 215 220 Asn Phe Glu Thr Ile Asn Cys Phe Lys Gln Cys Met Met Glu Glu Cys 225 230 235 240 Lys Glu Asn Phe Ser Thr Phe Glu Ile Val Ala Ala Leu Ile Trp Leu 245 250 255 Ala Lys Thr Lys Ser Phe Gln Ile Pro Asp Ser Glu Asn Val Lys Leu 260 265 270 Met Phe Ala Val Asp Met Arg Thr Ser Phe Asp Pro Pro Leu Pro Lys 275 280 285 Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asn Val Ile Gly Ile Ala Gly Ala Ile Asp Asn Val 290 295 300 Lys Glu Leu Leu Ser Gly Ser Ile Leu Arg Ala Leu Ile Ile Ile Gln 305 310 315 320 Lys Thr Ile Phe Ser Leu Lys Asp Asn Phe Ile Ser Arg Arg Leu Met 325 330 335 Lys Pro Ser Thr Leu Asp Val Asn Met Lys His Glu Asn Val Val Leu 340 345 350 Leu Gly Asp Trp Arg Asn Leu Gly Tyr Tyr Glu Ala Asp Cys Gly Cys 355 360 365 Gly Asn Leu Ser Asn Val Ile Pro Met Asp Gln Gln Ile Glu His Glu 370 375 380 Ser Pro Val Gln Ser Arg Phe Met Leu Leu Arg Ser Ser Lys Asn Met 385 390 395 400 Gln Asn Gly Ile Lys Ile Leu Met Ser Met Pro Glu Ser Met Ala Lys 405 410 415 Pro Phe Lys Ser Glu Met Lys Phe Thr Ile Lys Lys Tyr Val Thr Gly 420 425 430 Ala Cys Phe Ser Glu Leu 435 59 1314 DNA Taxus cuspidata 59 atggagaagg caggctcatc aacagagttc catgtaaaga tctctgatcc agtcatggtg 60 cccccctgca tcccttcccc caaaacaatc ctccagctct ccgccgtaga caattaccca 120 gcggtaagag gaaatattct cgactgcctg ttagtctaca atgcctctaa caccatttct 180 gcagatcctg cgactgtaat tcgggaggct ctctccaagg tgttggtgta ttattttcct 240 tttgctgggc ggatgagaaa caaaggagat ggggaactgg aagtggattg cacgggggaa 300 ggtgctctgt ttgtagaagc catggcggac gacaaccttt cagtgttggg aggttttgat 360 taccacaatc cagcatttgg gaagctactt tactcactac cactggatac ccctattcac 420 gacctccatc ctctggttgt tcaggtaact cgttttacct gcggggggtt tgttgtggga 480 ttaagtttgg accatagtat atgtgatgga cgtggtgcag gtcaatttct taaagcccta 540 gcagagatgg cgaggggaga ggctaagccc tcattggaac caatatggaa tagagagttg 600 ttgaagcccg aagaccttat acgcctgcaa ttttatcact ttgaatcgat gcgtccacct 660 ccaatagttg aagaaattgt tcaagcatct attattgtaa actctgagac aataagtaat 720 atcaaacaat acattatgga agaatgtaaa gaatctagtt ttgcatttga ggtcgtagca 780 gcattggcct ggctagcgag gacaagggct tttcaaattc cacatacaga gaatgtaaag 840 cttctttttg cagtggatac gaggagatca tttgatccac cacttccaaa aggttactat 900 ggtaatgccg ctggtaatgc atgtgcaatg gataatgttc aagacctctt aaatggatct 960 ctattgcggg ctgtaatgat tataaagaaa tcaaaggtct ctttaaatga gaatataagg 1020 gcaaaaacag tgatgagacc atctgcaata gatgtgaata tgaaacatga aagcacagtt 1080 ggattaagtg atttgaggca cttgggattt aatgaagtgg actttgggtg gggagatgca 1140 ttaaatgcaa gtctggtgca acatggggta attcaacaaa attattttct tttcctacaa 1200 ccttccaaga acatgaatgg tggaataaag atagcaatgt tcatgcccca atcaaaagtg 1260 aagccattca aaatagaaat ggaagcccta ataagcaaat atgcaactaa agtg 1314 60 438 PRT Taxus cuspidata 60 Met Glu Lys Ala Gly Ser Ser Thr Glu Phe His Val Lys Ile Ser Asp 1 5 10 15 Pro Val Met Val Pro Pro Cys Ile Pro Ser Pro Lys Thr Ile Leu Gln 20 25 30 Leu Ser Ala Val Asp Asn Tyr Pro Ala Val Arg Gly Asn Ile Leu Asp 35 40 45 Cys Leu Leu Val Tyr Asn Ala Ser Asn Thr Ile Ser Ala Asp Pro Ala 50 55 60 Thr Val Ile Arg Glu Ala Leu Ser Lys Val Leu Val Tyr Tyr Phe Pro 65 70 75 80 Phe Ala Gly Arg Met Arg Asn Lys Gly Asp Gly Glu Leu Glu Val Asp 85 90 95 Cys Thr Gly Glu Gly Ala Leu Phe Val Glu Ala Met Ala Asp Asp Asn 100 105 110 Leu Ser Val Leu Gly Gly Phe Asp Tyr His Asn Pro Ala Phe Gly Lys 115 120 125 Leu Leu Tyr Ser Leu Pro Leu Asp Thr Pro Ile His Asp Leu His Pro 130 135 140 Leu Val Val Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Thr Cys Gly Gly Phe Val Val Gly 145 150 155 160 Leu Ser Leu Asp His Ser Ile Cys Asp Gly Arg Gly Ala Gly Gln Phe 165 170 175 Leu Lys Ala Leu Ala Glu Met Ala Arg Gly Glu Ala Lys Pro Ser Leu 180 185 190 Glu Pro Ile Trp Asn Arg Glu Leu Leu Lys Pro Glu Asp Leu Ile Arg 195 200 205 Leu Gln Phe Tyr His Phe Glu Ser Met Arg Pro Pro Pro Ile Val Glu 210 215 220 Glu Ile Val Gln Ala Ser Ile Ile Val Asn Ser Glu Thr Ile Ser Asn 225 230 235 240 Ile Lys Gln Tyr Ile Met Glu Glu Cys Lys Glu Ser Ser Phe Ala Phe 245 250 255 Glu Val Val Ala Ala Leu Ala Trp Leu Ala Arg Thr Arg Ala Phe Gln 260 265 270 Ile Pro His Thr Glu Asn Val Lys Leu Leu Phe Ala Val Asp Thr Arg 275 280 285 Arg Ser Phe Asp Pro Pro Leu Pro Lys Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asn Ala Ala 290 295 300 Gly Asn Ala Cys Ala Met Asp Asn Val Gln Asp Leu Leu Asn Gly Ser 305 310 315 320 Leu Leu Arg Ala Val Met Ile Ile Lys Lys Ser Lys Val Ser Leu Asn 325 330 335 Glu Asn Ile Arg Ala Lys Thr Val Met Arg Pro Ser Ala Ile Asp Val 340 345 350 Asn Met Lys His Glu Ser Thr Val Gly Leu Ser Asp Leu Arg His Leu 355 360 365 Gly Phe Asn Glu Val Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Asp Ala Leu Asn Ala Ser 370 375 380 Leu Val Gln His Gly Val Ile Gln Gln Asn Tyr Phe Leu Phe Leu Gln 385 390 395 400 Pro Ser Lys Asn Met Asn Gly Gly Ile Lys Ile Ala Met Phe Met Pro 405 410 415 Gln Ser Lys Val Lys Pro Phe Lys Ile Glu Met Glu Ala Leu Ile Ser 420 425 430 Lys Tyr Ala Thr Lys Val 435 61 331 PRT Arabidopsis thaliana 61 Met Ser Gln Ile Leu Glu Asn Pro Asn Pro Asn Glu Leu Asn Lys Leu 1 5 10 15 His Pro Phe Glu Phe His Glu Val Ser Asp Val Pro Leu Thr Val Gln 20 25 30 Leu Thr Phe Phe Glu Cys Gly Gly Leu Ala Leu Gly Ile Gly Leu Ser 35 40 45 His Lys Leu Cys Asp Ala Leu Ser Gly Leu Ile Phe Val Asn Ser Trp 50 55 60 Ala Ala Phe Ala Arg Gly Gln Thr Asp Glu Ile Ile Thr Pro Ser Phe 65 70 75 80 Asp Leu Ala Lys Met Phe Pro Pro Cys Asp Ile Glu Asn Leu Asn Met 85 90 95 Ala Thr Gly Ile Thr Lys Glu Asn Ile Val Thr Arg Arg Phe Val Phe 100 105 110 Leu Arg Ser Ser Val Glu Ser Leu Arg Glu Arg Phe Ser Gly Asn Lys 115 120 125 Lys Ile Arg Ala Thr Arg Val Glu Val Leu Ser Val Phe Ile Trp Ser 130 135 140 Arg Phe Met Ala Ser Thr Asn His Asp Asp Lys Thr Gly Lys Ile Tyr 145 150 155 160 Thr Leu Ile His Pro Val Asn Leu Arg Arg Gln Ala Asp Pro Asp Ile 165 170 175 Pro Asp Asn Met Phe Gly Asn Ile Met Arg Phe Ser Val Thr Val Pro 180 185 190 Met Met Ile Ile Asn Glu Asn Asp Glu Glu Lys Ala Ser Leu Val Asp 195 200 205 Gln Met Arg Glu Glu Ile Arg Lys Ile Asp Ala Val Tyr Val Lys Lys 210 215 220 Leu Gln Glu Asp Asn Arg Gly His Leu Glu Phe Leu Asn Lys Gln Ala 225 230 235 240 Ser Gly Phe Val Asn Gly Glu Ile Val Ser Phe Ser Phe Thr Ser Leu 245 250 255 Cys Lys Phe Pro Val Tyr Glu Ala Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Lys Pro Leu 260 265 270 Trp Val Ala Ser Ala Arg Met Ser Tyr Lys Asn Leu Val Ala Phe Ile 275 280 285 Asp Thr Lys Glu Gly Asp Gly Ile Glu Ala Trp Ile Asn Leu Asp Gln 290 295 300 Asn Asp Met Ser Arg Phe Glu Ala Asp Glu Glu Leu Leu Arg Tyr Val 305 310 315 320 Ser Ser Asn Pro Ser Val Met Val Ser Val Ser 325 330 62 436 PRT Arabidopsis thaliana 62 Met Glu Lys Asn Val Glu Ile Leu Ser Arg Glu Ile Val Lys Pro Ser 1 5 10 15 Ser Pro Thr Pro Asp Asp Lys Arg Ile Leu Asn Leu Ser Leu Leu Asp 20 25 30 Ile Leu Ser Ser Pro Met Tyr Thr Gly Ala Leu Leu Phe Tyr Ala Ala 35 40 45 Asp Pro Gln Asn Leu Leu Gly Phe Ser Thr Glu Glu Thr Ser Leu Lys 50 55 60 Leu Lys Lys Ser Leu Ser Lys Thr Leu Pro Ile Phe Tyr Pro Leu Ala 65 70 75 80 Gly Arg Ile Ile Gly Ser Phe Val Glu Cys Asn Asp Glu Gly Ala Val 85 90 95 Phe Ile Glu Ala Arg Val Asp His Leu Leu Ser Glu Phe Leu Lys Cys 100 105 110 Pro Val Pro Glu Ser Leu Glu Leu Leu Ile Pro Val Glu Ala Lys Ser 115 120 125 Arg Glu Ala Val Thr Trp Pro Val Leu Leu Ile Gln Ala Asn Phe Phe 130 135 140 Ser Cys Gly Gly Leu Val Ile Thr Ile Cys Val Ser His Lys Ile Thr 145 150 155 160 Asp Ala Thr Ser Leu Ala Met Phe Ile Arg Gly Trp Ala Glu Ser Ser 165 170 175 Arg Gly Leu Gly Ile Thr Leu Ile Pro Ser Phe Thr Ala Ser Glu Val 180 185 190 Phe Pro Lys Pro Leu Asp Glu Leu Pro Ser Lys Pro Met Asp Arg Lys 195 200 205 Glu Glu Val Glu Glu Met Ser Cys Val Thr Lys Arg Phe Val Phe Asp 210 215 220 Ala Ser Lys Ile Lys Lys Leu Arg Ala Lys Ala Ser Arg Asn Leu Val 225 230 235 240 Lys Asn Pro Thr Arg Val Glu Ala Val Thr Ala Leu Phe Trp Arg Cys 245 250 255 Val Thr Lys Val Ser Arg Leu Ser Ser Leu Thr Pro Arg Thr Ser Val 260 265 270 Leu Gln Ile Leu Val Asn Leu Arg Gly Lys Val Asp Ser Leu Cys Glu 275 280 285 Asn Thr Ile Gly Asn Met Leu Ser Leu Met Ile Leu Lys Asn Glu Glu 290 295 300 Ala Ala Ile Glu Arg Ile Gln Asp Val Val Asp Glu Ile Arg Arg Ala 305 310 315 320 Lys Glu Ile Phe Ser Leu Asn Cys Lys Glu Met Ser Lys Ser Ser Ser 325 330 335 Arg Ile Phe Glu Leu Leu Glu Glu Ile Gly Lys Val Tyr Gly Arg Gly 340 345 350 Asn Glu Met Asp Leu Trp Met Ser Asn Ser Trp Cys Lys Leu Gly Leu 355 360 365 Tyr Asp Ala Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Lys Pro Val Trp Val Thr Gly Arg 370 375 380 Gly Thr Ser His Phe Lys Asn Leu Met Leu Leu Ile Asp Thr Lys Asp 385 390 395 400 Gly Glu Gly Ile Glu Ala Trp Ile Thr Leu Thr Glu Glu Gln Met Ser 405 410 415 Leu Phe Glu Cys Asp Gln Glu Leu Leu Glu Ser Ala Ser Leu Asn Pro 420 425 430 Pro Val Leu Ile 435 63 482 PRT Arabidopsis thaliana 63 Met Pro Ser Leu Glu Lys Ser Val Thr Ile Ile Ser Arg Asn Arg Val 1 5 10 15 Phe Pro Asp Gln Lys Ser Thr Leu Val Asp Leu Lys Leu Ser Val Ser 20 25 30 Asp Leu Pro Met Leu Ser Cys His Tyr Ile Gln Lys Gly Cys Leu Phe 35 40 45 Thr Cys Pro Asn Leu Pro Leu Pro Ala Leu Ile Ser His Leu Lys His 50 55 60 Ser Leu Ser Ile Thr Leu Thr His Phe Pro Pro Leu Ala Gly Arg Leu 65 70 75 80 Ser Thr Ser Ser Ser Gly His Val Phe Leu Thr Cys Asn Asp Ala Gly 85 90 95 Ala Asp Phe Val Phe Ala Gln Ala Lys Ser Ile His Val Ser Asp Val 100 105 110 Ile Ala Gly Ile Asp Val Pro Asp Val Val Lys Glu Phe Phe Thr Tyr 115 120 125 Asp Arg Ala Val Ser Tyr Glu Gly His Asn Arg Pro Ile Leu Ala Val 130 135 140 Gln Val Thr Glu Leu Asn Asp Gly Val Phe Ile Gly Cys Ser Val Asn 145 150 155 160 His Ala Val Thr Asp Gly Thr Ser Leu Trp Asn Phe Ile Asn Thr Phe 165 170 175 Ala Glu Val Ser Arg Gly Ala Lys Asn Val Thr Arg Gln Pro Asp Phe 180 185 190 Thr Arg Glu Ser Val Leu Ile Ser Pro Ala Val Leu Lys Val Pro Gln 195 200 205 Gly Gly Pro Lys Val Thr Phe Asp Glu Asn Ala Pro Leu Arg Glu Arg 210 215 220 Ile Phe Ser Phe Ser Arg Glu Ser Ile Gln Glu Leu Lys Ala Val Val 225 230 235 240 Asn Lys Lys Lys Trp Leu Thr Val Asp Asn Gly Glu Ile Asp Gly Val 245 250 255 Glu Leu Leu Gly Lys Gln Ser Asn Asp Lys Leu Asn Gly Lys Glu Asn 260 265 270 Gly Ile Leu Thr Glu Met Leu Glu Ser Leu Phe Gly Arg Asn Asp Ala 275 280 285 Val Ser Lys Pro Val Ala Val Glu Ile Ser Ser Phe Gln Ser Leu Cys 290 295 300 Ala Leu Leu Trp Arg Ala Ile Thr Arg Ala Arg Lys Leu Pro Ser Ser 305 310 315 320 Lys Thr Thr Thr Phe Arg Met Ala Val Asn Cys Arg His Arg Leu Ser 325 330 335 Pro Lys Leu Asn Pro Glu Tyr Phe Gly Asn Ala Ile Gln Ser Val Pro 340 345 350 Thr Phe Ala Thr Ala Ala Glu Val Leu Ser Arg Asp Leu Lys Trp Cys 355 360 365 Ala Asp Gln Leu Asn Gln Ser Val Ala Ala His Gln Asp Gly Arg Ile 370 375 380 Arg Ser Val Val Ala Asp Trp Glu Ala Asn Pro Arg Cys Phe Pro Leu 385 390 395 400 Gly Asn Ala Asp Gly Ala Ser Val Thr Met Gly Ser Ser Pro Arg Phe 405 410 415 Pro Met Tyr Asp Asn Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Arg Pro Val Ala Val Arg 420 425 430 Ser Gly Arg Ser Asn Lys Phe Asp Gly Lys Ile Ser Ala Phe Pro Gly 435 440 445 Arg Glu Gly Asn Gly Thr Val Asp Leu Glu Val Val Leu Ser Pro Glu 450 455 460 Thr Met Ala Gly Ile Glu Ser Asp Gly Glu Phe Met Arg Tyr Val Thr 465 470 475 480 Asn Lys 64 461 PRT Arabidopsis thaliana 64 Met Ala Ser Cys Ile Gln Glu Leu His Phe Thr His Leu His Ile Pro 1 5 10 15 Val Thr Ile Asn Gln Gln Phe Leu Val His Pro Ser Ser Pro Thr Pro 20 25 30 Ala Asn Gln Ser Pro His His Ser Leu Tyr Leu Ser Asn Leu Asp Asp 35 40 45 Ile Ile Gly Ala Arg Val Phe Thr Pro Ser Val Tyr Phe Tyr Pro Ser 50 55 60 Thr Asn Asn Arg Glu Ser Phe Val Leu Lys Arg Leu Gln Asp Ala Leu 65 70 75 80 Ser Glu Val Leu Val Pro Tyr Tyr Pro Leu Ser Gly Arg Leu Arg Glu 85 90 95 Val Glu Asn Gly Lys Leu Glu Val Phe Phe Gly Glu Glu Gln Gly Val 100 105 110 Leu Met Val Ser Ala Asn Ser Ser Met Asp Leu Ala Asp Leu Gly Asp 115 120 125 Leu Thr Val Pro Asn Pro Ala Trp Leu Pro Leu Ile Phe Arg Asn Pro 130 135 140 Gly Glu Glu Ala Tyr Lys Ile Leu Glu Met Pro Leu Leu Ile Ala Gln 145 150 155 160 Val Thr Phe Phe Thr Cys Gly Gly Phe Ser Leu Gly Ile Arg Leu Cys 165 170 175 His Cys Ile Cys Asp Gly Phe Gly Ala Met Gln Phe Leu Gly Ser Trp 180 185 190 Ala Ala Thr Ala Lys Thr Gly Lys Leu Ile Ala Asp Pro Glu Pro Val 195 200 205 Trp Asp Arg Glu Thr Phe Lys Pro Arg Asn Pro Pro Met Val Lys Tyr 210 215 220 Pro His His Glu Tyr Leu Pro Ile Glu Glu Arg Ser Asn Leu Thr Asn 225 230 235 240 Ser Leu Trp Asp Thr Lys Pro Leu Gln Lys Cys Tyr Arg Ile Ser Lys 245 250 255 Glu Phe Gln Cys Arg Val Lys Ser Ile Ala Gln Gly Glu Asp Pro Thr 260 265 270 Leu Val Cys Ser Thr Phe Asp Ala Met Ala Ala His Ile Trp Arg Ser 275 280 285 Trp Val Lys Ala Leu Asp Val Lys Pro Leu Asp Tyr Asn Leu Arg Leu 290 295 300 Thr Phe Ser Val Asn Val Arg Thr Arg Leu Glu Thr Leu Lys Leu Arg 305 310 315 320 Lys Gly Phe Tyr Gly Asn Val Val Cys Leu Ala Cys Ala Met Ser Ser 325 330 335 Val Glu Ser Leu Ile Asn Asp Ser Leu Ser Lys Thr Thr Arg Leu Val 340 345 350 Gln Asp Ala Arg Leu Arg Val Ser Glu Asp Tyr Leu Arg Ser Met Val 355 360 365 Asp Tyr Val Asp Val Lys Arg Pro Lys Arg Leu Glu Phe Gly Gly Lys 370 375 380 Leu Thr Ile Thr Gln Trp Thr Arg Phe Glu Met Tyr Glu Thr Ala Asp 385 390 395 400 Phe Gly Trp Gly Lys Pro Val Tyr Ala Gly Pro Ile Asp Leu Arg Pro 405 410 415 Thr Pro Gln Val Cys Val Leu Leu Pro Gln Gly Gly Val Glu Ser Gly 420 425 430 Asn Asp Gln Ser Met Val Val Cys Leu Cys Leu Pro Pro Thr Ala Val 435 440 445 His Thr Phe Thr Arg Leu Leu Ser Leu Asn Asp His Lys 450 455 460 65 572 PRT Arabidopsis thaliana 65 Met Ala Ala Val Ser Val Ala Ser Ala Glu Leu Pro Pro Pro Pro Gln 1 5 10 15 Asp Gly Glu Thr Leu Ser Asn Val Pro Gln Thr Leu Ser Gly Glu Asp 20 25 30 Cys Lys Lys Gln Arg Ile Gln Arg Pro Lys Ser Lys Asn Ala Glu Lys 35 40 45 Cys Thr Val Lys Cys Val Asn Thr Cys Ile Arg Ser Gly Asp Gly Glu 50 55 60 Gly Pro Ile Asn Ile Arg Arg Phe Gln Arg Ile Ala Trp Gln Ile Glu 65 70 75 80 Gly Ile Gln Val Thr Val Ser Cys Phe Phe Val Thr Cys Gly Lys Thr 85 90 95 Arg Ser Ser Ser Asn Asn Pro His His Thr Thr Phe Phe Ile Leu Ser 100 105 110 Glu Asn Asn Asn Gln Met Gly Glu Ala Ala Glu Gln Ala Arg Gly Phe 115 120 125 His Val Thr Thr Thr Arg Lys Gln Val Ile Thr Ala Ala Leu Pro Leu 130 135 140 Gln Asp His Trp Leu Pro Leu Ser Asn Leu Asp Leu Leu Leu Pro Pro 145 150 155 160 Leu Asn Val His Val Cys Phe Cys Tyr Lys Lys Pro Leu His Phe Thr 165 170 175 Asn Thr Val Ala Tyr Glu Thr Leu Lys Thr Ala Leu Ala Glu Thr Leu 180 185 190 Val Ser Tyr Tyr Ala Phe Ala Gly Glu Leu Val Thr Asn Pro Thr Gly 195 200 205 Glu Pro Glu Ile Leu Cys Asn Asn Arg Gly Val Asp Phe Val Glu Ala 210 215 220 Gly Ala Asp Val Glu Leu Arg Glu Leu Asn Leu Tyr Asp Pro Asp Glu 225 230 235 240 Ser Ile Ala Lys Leu Val Pro Ile Lys Lys His Gly Val Ile Ala Ile 245 250 255 Gln Val Thr Gln Leu Lys Cys Gly Ser Ile Val Val Gly Cys Thr Phe 260 265 270 Asp His Arg Val Ala Asp Ala Tyr Ser Met Asn Met Phe Leu Leu Ser 275 280 285 Trp Ala Glu Ile Ser Arg Ser Asp Val Pro Ile Ser Cys Val Pro Ser 290 295 300 Phe Arg Arg Ser Leu Leu Asn Pro Arg Arg Pro Leu Val Met Asp Pro 305 310 315 320 Ser Ile Asp Gln Ile Tyr Met Pro Val Thr Ser Leu Pro Pro Pro Gln 325 330 335 Glu Thr Thr Asn Pro Glu Asn Leu Leu Ala Ser Arg Ile Tyr Tyr Ile 340 345 350 Lys Ala Asn Ala Leu Gln Glu Leu Gln Thr Leu Ala Ser Ser Ser Lys 355 360 365 Asn Gly Lys Arg Thr Lys Leu Glu Ser Phe Ser Ala Phe Leu Trp Lys 370 375 380 Leu Val Ala Glu His Ala Ala Lys Asp Pro Val Pro Ile Lys Thr Ser 385 390 395 400 Lys Leu Gly Ile Val Val Asp Gly Arg Arg Arg Leu Met Glu Lys Glu 405 410 415 Asn Asn Thr Tyr Phe Gly Asn Val Leu Ser Val Pro Phe Gly Gly Gln 420 425 430 Arg Ile Asp Asp Leu Ile Ser Lys Pro Leu Ser Trp Val Thr Glu Glu 435 440 445 Val His Arg Phe Leu Lys Lys Ser Val Thr Lys Glu His Phe Leu Asn 450 455 460 Leu Ile Asp Trp Val Glu Thr Cys Arg Pro Thr Pro Ala Val Ser Arg 465 470 475 480 Ile Tyr Ser Val Gly Ser Asp Asp Gly Pro Ala Phe Val Val Ser Ser 485 490 495 Gly Arg Ser Phe Pro Val Asn Gln Val Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Ser Pro 500 505 510 Val Phe Gly Ser Tyr His Phe Pro Trp Gly Gly Ser Ala Gly Tyr Val 515 520 525 Met Pro Met Pro Ser Ser Val Asp Asp Arg Asp Trp Met Val Tyr Leu 530 535 540 His Leu Thr Lys Gly Gln Leu Arg Phe Ile Glu Glu Glu Ala Ser His 545 550 555 560 Val Leu Lys Pro Ile Asp Asn Asp Tyr Leu Lys Ile 565 570 66 433 PRT Clarkia breweri 66 Met Asn Val Thr Met His Ser Lys Lys Leu Leu Lys Pro Ser Ile Pro 1 5 10 15 Thr Pro Asn His Leu Gln Lys Leu Asn Leu Ser Leu Leu Asp Gln Ile 20 25 30 Gln Ile Pro Phe Tyr Val Gly Leu Ile Phe His Tyr Glu Thr Leu Ser 35 40 45 Asp Asn Ser Asp Ile Thr Leu Ser Lys Leu Glu Ser Ser Leu Ser Glu 50 55 60 Thr Leu Thr Leu Tyr Tyr His Val Ala Gly Arg Tyr Asn Gly Thr Asp 65 70 75 80 Cys Val Ile Glu Cys Asn Asp Gln Gly Ile Gly Tyr Val Glu Thr Ala 85 90 95 Phe Asp Val Glu Leu His Gln Phe Leu Leu Gly Glu Glu Ser Asn Asn 100 105 110 Leu Asp Leu Leu Val Gly Leu Ser Gly Phe Leu Ser Glu Thr Glu Thr 115 120 125 Pro Pro Leu Ala Ala Ile Gln Leu Asn Met Phe Lys Cys Gly Gly Leu 130 135 140 Val Ile Gly Ala Gln Phe Asn His Ile Ile Gly Asp Met Phe Thr Met 145 150 155 160 Ser Thr Phe Met Asn Ser Trp Ala Lys Ala Cys Arg Val Gly Ile Lys 165 170 175 Glu Val Ala His Pro Thr Phe Gly Leu Ala Pro Leu Met Pro Ser Ala 180 185 190 Lys Val Leu Asn Ile Pro Pro Pro Pro Ser Phe Glu Gly Val Lys Phe 195 200 205 Val Ser Lys Arg Phe Val Phe Asn Glu Asn Ala Ile Thr Arg Leu Arg 210 215 220 Lys Glu Ala Thr Glu Glu Asp Gly Asp Gly Asp Asp Asp Gln Lys Lys 225 230 235 240 Lys Arg Pro Ser Arg Val Asp Leu Val Thr Ala Phe Leu Ser Lys Ser 245 250 255 Leu Ile Glu Met Asp Cys Ala Lys Lys Glu Gln Thr Lys Ser Arg Pro 260 265 270 Ser Leu Met Val His Met Met Asn Leu Arg Lys Arg Thr Lys Leu Ala 275 280 285 Leu Glu Asn Asp Val Ser Gly Asn Phe Phe Ile Val Val Asn Ala Glu 290 295 300 Ser Lys Ile Thr Val Ala Pro Lys Ile Thr Asp Leu Thr Glu Ser Leu 305 310 315 320 Gly Ser Ala Cys Gly Glu Ile Ile Ser Glu Val Ala Lys Val Asp Asp 325 330 335 Ala Glu Val Val Ser Ser Met Val Leu Asn Ser Val Arg Glu Phe Tyr 340 345 350 Tyr Glu Trp Gly Lys Gly Glu Lys Asn Val Phe Leu Tyr Thr Ser Trp 355 360 365 Cys Arg Phe Pro Leu Tyr Glu Val Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Ile Pro Ser 370 375 380 Leu Val Asp Thr Thr Ala Val Pro Phe Gly Leu Ile Val Leu Met Asp 385 390 395 400 Glu Ala Pro Ala Gly Asp Gly Ile Ala Val Arg Ala Cys Leu Ser Glu 405 410 415 His Asp Met Ile Gln Phe Gln Gln His His Gln Leu Leu Ser Tyr Val 420 425 430 Ser 67 450 PRT Dianthus caryophyllus 67 Met Gly Ser Ser Tyr Gln Glu Ser Pro Pro Leu Leu Leu Glu Asp Leu 1 5 10 15 Lys Val Thr Ile Lys Glu Ser Thr Leu Ile Phe Pro Ser Glu Glu Thr 20 25 30 Ser Glu Arg Lys Ser Met Phe Leu Ser Asn Val Asp Gln Ile Leu Asn 35 40 45 Phe Asp Val Gln Thr Val His Phe Phe Arg Pro Asn Lys Glu Phe Pro 50 55 60 Pro Glu Met Val Ser Glu Lys Leu Arg Lys Ala Leu Val Lys Leu Met 65 70 75 80 Asp Ala Tyr Glu Phe Leu Ala Gly Arg Leu Arg Val Asp Pro Ser Ser 85 90 95 Gly Arg Leu Asp Val Asp Cys Asn Gly Ala Gly Ala Gly Phe Val Thr 100 105 110 Ala Ala Ser Asp Tyr Thr Leu Glu Glu Leu Gly Asp Leu Val Tyr Pro 115 120 125 Asn Pro Ala Phe Ala Gln Leu Val Thr Ser Gln Leu Gln Ser Leu Pro 130 135 140 Lys Asp Asp Gln Pro Leu Phe Val Phe Gln Ile Thr Ser Phe Lys Cys 145 150 155 160 Gly Gly Phe Ala Met Gly Ile Ser Thr Asn His Thr Thr Phe Asp Gly 165 170 175 Leu Ser Phe Lys Thr Phe Leu Glu Asn Leu Ala Ser Leu Leu His Glu 180 185 190 Lys Pro Leu Ser Thr Pro Pro Cys Asn Asp Arg Thr Leu Leu Lys Ala 195 200 205 Arg Asp Pro Pro Ser Val Ala Phe Pro His His Glu Leu Val Lys Phe 210 215 220 Gln Asp Cys Glu Thr Thr Thr Val Phe Glu Ala Thr Ser Glu His Leu 225 230 235 240 Asp Phe Lys Ile Phe Lys Leu Ser Ser Glu Gln Ile Lys Lys Leu Lys 245 250 255 Glu Arg Ala Ser Glu Thr Ser Asn Gly Asn Val Arg Val Thr Gly Phe 260 265 270 Asn Val Val Thr Ala Leu Val Trp Arg Cys Lys Ala Leu Ser Val Ala 275 280 285 Ala Glu Glu Gly Glu Glu Thr Asn Leu Glu Arg Glu Ser Thr Ile Leu 290 295 300 Tyr Ala Val Asp Ile Arg Gly Arg Leu Asn Pro Glu Leu Pro Pro Ser 305 310 315 320 Tyr Thr Gly Asn Ala Val Leu Thr Ala Tyr Ala Lys Glu Lys Cys Lys 325 330 335 Ala Leu Leu Glu Glu Pro Phe Gly Arg Ile Val Glu Met Val Gly Glu 340 345 350 Gly Ser Lys Arg Ile Thr Asp Glu Tyr Ala Arg Ser Ala Ile Asp Trp 355 360 365 Gly Glu Leu Tyr Lys Gly Phe Pro His Gly Glu Val Leu Val Ser Ser 370 375 380 Trp Trp Lys Leu Gly Phe Ala Glu Val Glu Tyr Pro Trp Gly Lys Pro 385 390 395 400 Lys Tyr Ser Cys Pro Val Val Tyr His Arg Lys Asp Ile Val Leu Leu 405 410 415 Phe Pro Asp Ile Asp Gly Asp Ser Lys Gly Val Tyr Val Leu Ala Ala 420 425 430 Leu Pro Ser Lys Glu Met Ser Lys Phe Gln His Trp Phe Glu Asp Thr 435 440 445 Leu Cys 450 68 439 PRT Catharanthus roseus 68 Met Glu Ser Gly Lys Ile Ser Val Glu Thr Glu Thr Leu Ser Lys Thr 1 5 10 15 Leu Ile Lys Pro Ser Ser Pro Thr Pro Gln Ser Leu Ser Arg Tyr Asn 20 25 30 Leu Ser Tyr Asn Asp Gln Asn Ile Tyr Gln Thr Cys Val Ser Val Gly 35 40 45 Phe Phe Tyr Glu Asn Pro Asp Gly Ile Glu Ile Ser Thr Ile Arg Glu 50 55 60 Gln Leu Gln Asn Ser Leu Ser Lys Thr Leu Val Ser Tyr Tyr Pro Phe 65 70 75 80 Ala Gly Lys Val Val Lys Asn Asp Tyr Ile His Cys Asn Asp Asp Gly 85 90 95 Ile Glu Phe Val Glu Val Arg Ile Arg Cys Arg Met Asn Asp Ile Leu 100 105 110 Lys Tyr Glu Leu Arg Ser Tyr Ala Arg Asp Leu Val Leu Pro Lys Arg 115 120 125 Val Thr Val Gly Ser Glu Asp Thr Thr Ala Ile Val Gln Leu Ser His 130 135 140 Phe Asp Cys Gly Gly Leu Ala Val Ala Phe Gly Ile Ser His Lys Val 145 150 155 160 Ala Asp Gly Gly Thr Ile Ala Ser Phe Met Lys Asp Trp Ala Ala Ser 165 170 175 Ala Cys Tyr Leu Ser Ser Ser His His Val Pro Thr Pro Leu Leu Val 180 185 190 Ser Asp Ser Ile Phe Pro Arg Gln Asp Asn Ile Ile Cys Glu Gln Phe 195 200 205 Pro Thr Ser Lys Asn Cys Val Glu Lys Thr Phe Ile Phe Pro Pro Glu 210 215 220 Ala Ile Glu Lys Leu Lys Ser Lys Ala Val Glu Phe Gly Ile Glu Lys 225 230 235 240 Pro Thr Arg Val Glu Val Leu Thr Ala Phe Leu Ser Arg Cys Ala Thr 245 250 255 Val Ala Gly Lys Ser Ala Ala Lys Asn Asn Asn Cys Gly Gln Ser Leu 260 265 270 Pro Phe Pro Val Leu Gln Ala Ile Asn Leu Arg Pro Ile Leu Glu Leu 275 280 285 Pro Gln Asn Ser Val Gly Asn Leu Val Ser Ile Tyr Phe Ser Arg Thr 290 295 300 Ile Lys Glu Asn Asp Tyr Leu Asn Glu Lys Glu Tyr Thr Lys Leu Val 305 310 315 320 Ile Asn Glu Leu Arg Lys Glu Lys Gln Lys Ile Lys Asn Leu Ser Arg 325 330 335 Glu Lys Leu Thr Tyr Val Ala Gln Met Glu Glu Phe Val Lys Ser Leu 340 345 350 Lys Glu Phe Asp Ile Ser Asn Phe Leu Asp Ile Asp Ala Tyr Leu Ser 355 360 365 Asp Ser Trp Cys Arg Phe Pro Phe Tyr Asp Val Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly 370 375 380 Lys Pro Ile Trp Val Cys Leu Phe Gln Pro Tyr Ile Lys Asn Cys Val 385 390 395 400 Val Met Met Asp Tyr Pro Phe Gly Asp Asp Tyr Gly Ile Glu Ala Ile 405 410 415 Val Ser Phe Glu Gln Glu Lys Met Ser Ala Phe Glu Lys Asn Glu Gln 420 425 430 Leu Leu Gln Phe Val Ser Asn 435 69 451 PRT Arabidopsis thaliana 69 Met Ala Pro Ile Thr Phe Arg Lys Ser Tyr Thr Ile Val Pro Ala Glu 1 5 10 15 Pro Thr Trp Ser Gly Arg Phe Pro Leu Ala Glu Trp Asp Gln Val Gly 20 25 30 Thr Ile Thr His Ile Pro Thr Leu Tyr Phe Tyr Asp Lys Pro Ser Glu 35 40 45 Ser Phe Gln Gly Asn Val Val Glu Ile Leu Lys Thr Ser Leu Ser Arg 50 55 60 Val Leu Val His Phe Tyr Pro Met Ala Gly Arg Leu Arg Trp Leu Pro 65 70 75 80 Arg Gly Arg Phe Glu Leu Asn Cys Asn Ala Glu Gly Val Glu Phe Ile 85 90 95 Glu Ala Glu Ser Glu Gly Lys Leu Ser Asp Phe Lys Asp Phe Ser Pro 100 105 110 Thr Pro Glu Phe Glu Asn Leu Met Pro Gln Val Asn Tyr Lys Asn Pro 115 120 125 Ile Glu Thr Ile Pro Leu Phe Leu Ala Gln Val Thr Lys Phe Lys Cys 130 135 140 Gly Gly Ile Ser Leu Ser Val Asn Val Ser His Ala Ile Val Asp Gly 145 150 155 160 Gln Ser Ala Leu His Leu Ile Ser Glu Trp Gly Arg Leu Ala Arg Gly 165 170 175 Glu Pro Leu Glu Thr Val Pro Phe Leu Asp Arg Lys Ile Leu Trp Ala 180 185 190 Gly Glu Pro Leu Pro Pro Phe Val Ser Pro Pro Lys Phe Asp His Lys 195 200 205 Glu Phe Asp Gln Pro Pro Phe Leu Ile Gly Glu Thr Asp Asn Val Glu 210 215 220 Glu Arg Lys Lys Lys Thr Ile Val Val Met Leu Pro Leu Ser Thr Ser 225 230 235 240 Gln Leu Gln Lys Leu Arg Ser Lys Ala Asn Gly Ser Lys His Ser Asp 245 250 255 Pro Ala Lys Gly Phe Thr Arg Tyr Glu Thr Val Thr Gly His Val Trp 260 265 270 Arg Cys Ala Cys Lys Ala Arg Gly His Ser Pro Glu Gln Pro Thr Ala 275 280 285 Leu Gly Ile Cys Ile Asp Thr Arg Ser Arg Met Glu Pro Pro Leu Pro 290 295 300 Arg Gly Tyr Phe Gly Asn Ala Thr Leu Asp Val Val Ala Ala Ser Thr 305 310 315 320 Ser Gly Glu Leu Ile Ser Asn Glu Leu Gly Phe Ala Ala Ser Leu Ile 325 330 335 Ser Lys Ala Ile Lys Asn Val Thr Asn Glu Tyr Val Met Ile Gly Ile 340 345 350 Glu Tyr Leu Lys Asn Gln Lys Asp Leu Lys Lys Phe Gln Asp Leu His 355 360 365 Ala Leu Gly Ser Thr Glu Gly Pro Phe Tyr Gly Asn Pro Asn Leu Gly 370 375 380 Val Val Ser Trp Leu Thr Leu Pro Met Tyr Gly Leu Asp Phe Gly Trp 385 390 395 400 Gly Lys Glu Phe Tyr Thr Gly Pro Gly Thr His Asp Phe Asp Gly Asp 405 410 415 Ser Leu Ile Leu Pro Asp Gln Asn Glu Asp Gly Ser Val Ile Leu Ala 420 425 430 Thr Cys Leu Gln Val Ala His Met Glu Ala Phe Lys Lys His Phe Tyr 435 440 445 Glu Asp Ile 450 70 461 PRT Arabidopsis thaliana 70 Met Ala Asn Gln Arg Lys Pro Ile Leu Pro Leu Leu Leu Glu Lys Lys 1 5 10 15 Pro Val Glu Leu Val Lys Pro Ser Lys His Thr His Cys Glu Thr Leu 20 25 30 Ser Leu Ser Thr Leu Asp Asn Asp Pro Phe Asn Glu Val Met Tyr Ala 35 40 45 Thr Ile Tyr Val Phe Lys Ala Asn Gly Lys Asn Leu Asp Asp Pro Val 50 55 60 Ser Leu Leu Arg Lys Ala Leu Ser Glu Leu Leu Val His Tyr Tyr Pro 65 70 75 80 Leu Ser Gly Lys Leu Met Arg Ser Glu Ser Asn Gly Lys Leu Gln Leu 85 90 95 Val Tyr Leu Gly Glu Gly Val Pro Phe Glu Val Ala Thr Ser Thr Leu 100 105 110 Asp Leu Ser Ser Leu Asn Tyr Ile Glu Asn Leu Asp Asp Gln Val Ala 115 120 125 Leu Arg Leu Val Pro Glu Ile Glu Ile Asp Tyr Glu Ser Asn Val Cys 130 135 140 Tyr His Pro Leu Ala Leu Gln Val Thr Lys Phe Ala Cys Gly Gly Phe 145 150 155 160 Thr Ile Gly Thr Ala Leu Thr His Ala Val Cys Asp Gly Tyr Gly Val 165 170 175 Ala Gln Ile Ile His Ala Leu Thr Glu Leu Ala Ala Gly Lys Thr Glu 180 185 190 Pro Ser Val Lys Ser Val Trp Gln Arg Glu Arg Leu Val Gly Lys Ile 195 200 205 Asp Asn Lys Pro Gly Lys Val Pro Gly Ser His Ile Asp Gly Phe Leu 210 215 220 Ala Thr Ser Ala Tyr Leu Pro Thr Thr Asp Val Val Thr Glu Thr Ile 225 230 235 240 Asn Ile Arg Ala Gly Asp Ile Lys Arg Leu Lys Asp Ser Met Met Lys 245 250 255 Glu Cys Glu Tyr Leu Lys Glu Ser Phe Thr Thr Tyr Glu Val Leu Ser 260 265 270 Ser Tyr Ile Trp Lys Leu Arg Ser Arg Ala Leu Lys Leu Asn Pro Asp 275 280 285 Gly Ile Thr Val Leu Gly Val Ala Val Gly Ile Arg His Val Leu Asp 290 295 300 Pro Pro Leu Pro Lys Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asn Ala Tyr Ile Asp Val Tyr 305 310 315 320 Val Glu Leu Thr Val Arg Glu Leu Glu Glu Ser Ser Ile Ser Asn Ile 325 330 335 Ala Asn Arg Val Lys Lys Ala Lys Lys Thr Ala Tyr Glu Lys Gly Tyr 340 345 350 Ile Glu Glu Glu Leu Lys Asn Thr Glu Arg Leu Met Arg Asp Asp Ser 355 360 365 Met Phe Glu Gly Val Ser Asp Gly Leu Phe Phe Leu Thr Asp Trp Arg 370 375 380 Asn Ile Gly Trp Phe Gly Ser Met Asp Phe Gly Trp Asn Glu Pro Val 385 390 395 400 Asn Leu Arg Pro Leu Thr Gln Arg Glu Ser Thr Val His Val Gly Met 405 410 415 Ile Leu Lys Pro Ser Lys Ser Asp Pro Ser Met Glu Gly Gly Val Lys 420 425 430 Val Ile Met Lys Leu Pro Arg Asp Ala Met Val Glu Phe Lys Arg Glu 435 440 445 Met Ala Thr Met Lys Lys Leu Tyr Phe Gly Asp Thr Asn 450 455 460 71 460 PRT Nicotiana tabacum 71 Met Asp Ser Lys Gln Ser Ser Glu Leu Val Phe Thr Val Arg Arg Gln 1 5 10 15 Lys Pro Glu Leu Ile Ala Pro Ala Lys Pro Thr Pro Arg Glu Thr Lys 20 25 30 Phe Leu Ser Asp Ile Asp Asp Gln Glu Gly Leu Arg Phe Gln Ile Pro 35 40 45 Val Ile Gln Phe Tyr His Lys Asp Ser Ser Met Gly Arg Lys Asp Pro 50 55 60 Val Lys Val Ile Lys Lys Ala Ile Ala Glu Thr Leu Val Phe Tyr Tyr 65 70 75 80 Pro Phe Ala Gly Arg Leu Arg Glu Gly Asn Gly Arg Lys Leu Met Val 85 90 95 Asp Cys Thr Gly Glu Gly Ile Met Phe Val Glu Ala Asp Ala Asp Val 100 105 110 Thr Leu Glu Gln Phe Gly Asp Glu Leu Gln Pro Pro Phe Pro Cys Leu 115 120 125 Glu Glu Leu Leu Tyr Asp Val Pro Asp Ser Ala Gly Val Leu Asn Cys 130 135 140 Pro Leu Leu Leu Ile Gln Val Thr Arg Leu Arg Cys Gly Gly Phe Ile 145 150 155 160 Phe Ala Leu Arg Leu Asn His Thr Met Ser Asp Ala Pro Gly Leu Val 165 170 175 Gln Phe Met Thr Ala Val Gly Glu Met Ala Arg Gly Gly Ser Ala Pro 180 185 190 Ser Ile Leu Pro Val Trp Cys Arg Glu Leu Leu Asn Ala Arg Asn Pro 195 200 205 Pro Gln Val Thr Cys Thr His His Glu Tyr Asp Glu Val Arg Asp Thr 210 215 220 Lys Gly Thr Ile Ile Pro Leu Asp Asp Met Val His Lys Ser Phe Phe 225 230 235 240 Phe Gly Pro Ser Glu Val Ser Ala Leu Arg Arg Phe Val Pro His His 245 250 255 Leu Arg Lys Cys Ser Thr Phe Glu Leu Leu Thr Ala Val Leu Trp Arg 260 265 270 Cys Arg Thr Met Ser Leu Lys Pro Asp Pro Glu Glu Glu Val Arg Ala 275 280 285 Leu Cys Ile Val Asn Ala Arg Ser Arg Phe Asn Pro Pro Leu Pro Thr 290 295 300 Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asn Ala Phe Ala Phe Pro Val Ala Val Thr Thr Ala 305 310 315 320 Ala Lys Leu Ser Lys Asn Pro Leu Gly Tyr Ala Leu Glu Leu Val Lys 325 330 335 Lys Thr Lys Ser Asp Val Thr Glu Glu Tyr Met Lys Ser Val Ala Asp 340 345 350 Leu Met Val Leu Lys Gly Arg Pro His Phe Thr Val Val Arg Thr Phe 355 360 365 Leu Val Ser Asp Val Thr Arg Gly Gly Phe Gly Glu Val Asp Phe Gly 370 375 380 Trp Gly Lys Ala Val Tyr Gly Gly Pro Ala Lys Gly Gly Val Gly Ala 385 390 395 400 Ile Pro Gly Val Ala Ser Phe Tyr Ile Pro Phe Lys Asn Lys Lys Gly 405 410 415 Glu Asn Gly Ile Val Val Pro Ile Cys Leu Pro Gly Phe Ala Met Glu 420 425 430 Thr Phe Val Lys Glu Leu Asp Gly Met Leu Lys Val Asp Ala Pro Leu 435 440 445 Val Asn Ser Asn Tyr Ala Ile Ile Arg Pro Ala Leu 450 455 460 72 455 PRT Cucumis melo 72 Asp Phe Ser Phe His Val Arg Lys Cys Gln Pro Glu Leu Ile Ala Pro 1 5 10 15 Ala Asn Pro Thr Pro Tyr Glu Phe Lys Gln Leu Ser Asp Val Asp Asp 20 25 30 Gln Gln Ser Leu Arg Leu Gln Leu Pro Phe Val Asn Ile Tyr Pro His 35 40 45 Asn Pro Ser Leu Glu Gly Arg Asp Pro Val Lys Val Ile Lys Glu Ala 50 55 60 Ile Gly Lys Ala Leu Val Phe Tyr Tyr Pro Leu Ala Gly Arg Leu Arg 65 70 75 80 Glu Gly Pro Gly Arg Lys Leu Phe Val Glu Cys Thr Gly Glu Gly Ile 85 90 95 Leu Phe Ile Glu Ala Asp Ala Asp Val Ser Leu Glu Glu Phe Trp Asp 100 105 110 Thr Leu Pro Tyr Ser Leu Ser Ser Met Gln Asn Asn Ile Ile His Asn 115 120 125 Ala Leu Asn Ser Asp Glu Val Leu Asn Ser Pro Leu Leu Leu Ile Gln 130 135 140 Val Thr Arg Leu Lys Cys Gly Gly Phe Ile Phe Gly Leu Cys Phe Asn 145 150 155 160 His Thr Met Ala Asp Gly Phe Gly Ile Val Gln Phe Met Lys Ala Thr 165 170 175 Ala Glu Ile Ala Arg Gly Ala Phe Ala Pro Ser Ile Leu Pro Val Trp 180 185 190 Gln Arg Ala Leu Leu Thr Ala Arg Asp Pro Pro Arg Ile Thr Phe Arg 195 200 205 His Tyr Glu Tyr Asp Gln Val Val Asp Met Lys Ser Gly Leu Ile Pro 210 215 220 Val Asn Ser Lys Ile Asp Gln Leu Phe Phe Phe Ser Gln Leu Gln Ile 225 230 235 240 Ser Thr Leu Arg Gln Thr Leu Pro Ala His Leu His Asp Cys Pro Ser 245 250 255 Phe Glu Val Leu Thr Ala Tyr Val Trp Arg Leu Arg Thr Ile Ala Leu 260 265 270 Gln Phe Lys Pro Glu Glu Glu Val Arg Phe Leu Cys Val Met Asn Leu 275 280 285 Arg Ser Lys Ile Asp Ile Pro Leu Gly Tyr Tyr Gly Asn Ala Val Val 290 295 300 Val Pro Ala Val Ile Thr Thr Ala Ala Lys Leu Cys Gly Asn Pro Leu 305 310 315 320 Gly Tyr Ala Val Asp Leu Ile Arg Lys Ala Lys Ala Lys Ala Thr Met 325 330 335 Glu Tyr Ile Lys Ser Thr Val Asp Leu Met Val Ile Lys Gly Arg Pro 340 345 350 Tyr Phe Thr Val Val Gly Ser Phe Met Met Ser Asp Leu Thr Arg Ile 355 360 365 Gly Val Glu Asn Val Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Lys Ala Ile Phe Gly Gly 370 375 380 Pro Thr Thr Thr Gly Ala Arg Ile Thr Arg Gly Leu Val Ser Phe Cys 385 390 395 400 Val Pro Phe Met Asn Arg Asn Gly Glu Lys Gly Thr Ala Leu Ser Leu 405 410 415 Cys Leu Pro Pro Pro Ala Met Glu Arg Phe Arg Ala Asn Val His Ala 420 425 430 Ser Leu Gln Val Lys Gln Val Val Asp Ala Val Asp Ser His Met Gln 435 440 445 Thr Ile Gln Ser Ala Ser Lys 450 455 73 445 PRT Arabidopsis thaliana 73 Met Ser Ile Gln Ile Lys Gln Ser Thr Met Val Arg Pro Ala Glu Glu 1 5 10 15 Thr Pro Asn Lys Ser Leu Trp Leu Ser Asn Ile Asp Met Ile Leu Arg 20 25 30 Thr Pro Tyr Ser His Thr Gly Ala Val Leu Ile Tyr Lys Gln Pro Asp 35 40 45 Asn Asn Glu Asp Asn Ile His Pro Ser Ser Ser Met Tyr Phe Asp Ala 50 55 60 Asn Ile Leu Ile Glu Ala Leu Ser Lys Ala Leu Val Pro Phe Tyr Pro 65 70 75 80 Met Ala Gly Arg Leu Lys Ile Asn Gly Asp Arg Tyr Glu Ile Asp Cys 85 90 95 Asn Ala Glu Gly Ala Leu Phe Val Glu Ala Glu Ser Ser His Val Leu 100 105 110 Glu Asp Phe Gly Asp Phe Arg Pro Asn Asp Glu Leu His Arg Val Met 115 120 125 Val Pro Thr Cys Asp Tyr Ser Lys Gly Ile Ser Ser Phe Pro Leu Leu 130 135 140 Met Val Gln Leu Thr Arg Phe Arg Cys Gly Gly Val Ser Ile Gly Phe 145 150 155 160 Ala Gln His His His Val Cys Asp Gly Met Ala His Phe Glu Phe Asn 165 170 175 Asn Ser Trp Ala Arg Ile Ala Lys Gly Leu Leu Pro Ala Leu Glu Pro 180 185 190 Val His Asp Arg Tyr Leu His Leu Arg Pro Arg Asn Pro Pro Gln Ile 195 200 205 Lys Tyr Ser His Ser Gln Phe Glu Pro Phe Val Pro Ser Leu Pro Asn 210 215 220 Glu Leu Leu Asp Gly Lys Thr Asn Lys Ser Gln Thr Leu Phe Ile Leu 225 230 235 240 Ser Arg Glu Gln Ile Asn Thr Leu Lys Gln Lys Leu Asp Leu Ser Asn 245 250 255 Asn Thr Thr Arg Leu Ser Thr Tyr Glu Val Val Ala Ala His Val Trp 260 265 270 Arg Ser Val Ser Lys Ala Arg Gly Leu Ser Asp His Glu Glu Ile Lys 275 280 285 Leu Ile Met Pro Val Asp Gly Arg Ser Arg Ile Asn Asn Pro Ser Leu 290 295 300 Pro Lys Gly Tyr Cys Gly Asn Val Val Phe Leu Ala Val Cys Thr Ala 305 310 315 320 Thr Val Gly Asp Leu Ser Cys Asn Pro Leu Thr Asp Thr Ala Gly Lys 325 330 335 Val Gln Glu Ala Leu Lys Gly Leu Asp Asp Asp Tyr Leu Arg Ser Ala 340 345 350 Ile Asp His Thr Glu Ser Lys Pro Gly Leu Pro Val Pro Tyr Met Gly 355 360 365 Ser Pro Glu Lys Thr Leu Tyr Pro Asn Val Leu Val Asn Ser Trp Gly 370 375 380 Arg Ile Pro Tyr Gln Ala Met Asp Phe Gly Trp Gly Ser Pro Thr Phe 385 390 395 400 Phe Gly Ile Ser Asn Ile Phe Tyr Asp Gly Gln Cys Phe Leu Ile Pro 405 410 415 Ser Arg Asp Gly Asp Gly Ser Met Thr Leu Ala Ile Asn Leu Phe Ser 420 425 430 Ser His Leu Ser Arg Phe Lys Lys Tyr Phe Tyr Asp Phe 435 440 445 74 446 PRT Arabidopsis thaliana 74 Met Glu Thr Met Thr Met Lys Val Glu Thr Ile Ser Lys Glu Ile Ile 1 5 10 15 Lys Pro Ser Ser Pro Thr Pro Asn Asn Leu Gln Thr Leu Gln Leu Ser 20 25 30 Ile Tyr Asp His Ile Leu Pro Pro Val Tyr Thr Val Ala Phe Leu Phe 35 40 45 Tyr Thr Lys Asn Asp Leu Ile Ser Gln Glu His Thr Ser His Lys Leu 50 55 60 Lys Thr Ser Leu Ser Glu Thr Leu Thr Lys Phe Tyr Pro Leu Ala Gly 65 70 75 80 Arg Ile Thr Gly Val Thr Val Asp Cys Thr Asp Glu Gly Ala Ile Phe 85 90 95 Val Asp Ala Arg Val Asn Asn Cys Pro Leu Thr Glu Phe Leu Lys Cys 100 105 110 Pro Asp Phe Asp Ala Leu Gln Gln Leu Leu Pro Leu Asp Val Val Asp 115 120 125 Asn Pro Tyr Val Ala Ala Ala Thr Trp Pro Leu Leu Leu Val Lys Ala 130 135 140 Thr Tyr Phe Gly Cys Gly Gly Met Ala Ile Gly Ile Cys Ile Thr His 145 150 155 160 Lys Ile Ala Asp Ala Ala Ser Ile Ser Thr Phe Ile Arg Ser Trp Ala 165 170 175 Ala Thr Ala Arg Gly Glu Asn Asp Ala Ala Ala Met Glu Ser Pro Val 180 185 190 Phe Ala Gly Ala Asn Phe Tyr Pro Pro Ala Asn Glu Ala Phe Lys Leu 195 200 205 Pro Ala Asp Glu Gln Ala Gly Lys Arg Ser Ser Ile Thr Lys Arg Phe 210 215 220 Val Phe Glu Ala Ser Lys Val Glu Asp Leu Arg Thr Lys Ala Ala Ser 225 230 235 240 Glu Glu Thr Val Asp Gln Pro Thr Arg Val Glu Ser Val Thr Ala Leu 245 250 255 Ile Trp Lys Cys Phe Val Ala Ser Ser Lys Thr Thr Thr Cys Asp His 260 265 270 Lys Val Leu Val Gln Leu Ala Asn Leu Arg Ser Lys Ile Pro Ser Leu 275 280 285 Leu Gln Glu Ser Ser Ile Gly Asn Leu Met Phe Ser Ser Val Val Leu 290 295 300 Ser Ile Gly Arg Gly Gly Glu Val Lys Ile Glu Glu Ala Val Arg Asp 305 310 315 320 Leu Arg Lys Lys Lys Glu Glu Leu Gly Thr Val Ile Leu Asp Glu Gly 325 330 335 Gly Ser Ser Asp Ser Ser Ser Met Ile Gly Ser Lys Leu Ala Asn Leu 340 345 350 Met Leu Thr Asn Tyr Ser Arg Leu Ser Tyr Glu Thr His Glu Pro Tyr 355 360 365 Thr Val Ser Ser Trp Cys Lys Leu Pro Leu Tyr Glu Ala Ser Phe Gly 370 375 380 Trp Asp Ser Pro Val Trp Val Val Gly Asn Val Ser Pro Val Leu Gly 385 390 395 400 Asn Leu Ala Met Leu Ile Asp Ser Lys Asp Gly Gln Gly Ile Glu Ala 405 410 415 Phe Val Thr Leu Pro Glu Glu Asn Met Ser Ser Phe Glu Gln Asn Pro 420 425 430 Glu Leu Leu Ala Phe Ala Thr Met Asn Pro Ser Val Leu Val 435 440 445 75 435 PRT Arabidopsis thaliana 75 Met Glu Ala Lys Leu Glu Val Thr Gly Lys Glu Val Ile Lys Pro Ala 1 5 10 15 Ser Pro Ser Pro Arg Asp Arg Leu Gln Leu Ser Ile Leu Asp Leu Tyr 20 25 30 Cys Pro Gly Ile Tyr Val Ser Thr Ile Phe Phe Tyr Asp Leu Ile Thr 35 40 45 Glu Ser Ser Glu Val Phe Ser Glu Asn Leu Lys Leu Ser Leu Ser Glu 50 55 60 Thr Leu Ser Arg Phe Tyr Pro Leu Ala Gly Arg Ile Glu Gly Leu Ser 65 70 75 80 Ile Ser Cys Asn Asp Glu Gly Ala Val Phe Thr Glu Ala Arg Thr Asp 85 90 95 Leu Leu Leu Pro Asp Phe Leu Arg Asn Leu Asn Thr Asp Ser Leu Ser 100 105 110 Gly Phe Leu Pro Thr Leu Ala Ala Gly Glu Ser Pro Ala Ala Trp Pro 115 120 125 Leu Leu Ser Val Lys Val Thr Phe Phe Gly Ser Gly Ser Gly Val Ala 130 135 140 Val Ser Val Ser Val Ser His Lys Ile Cys Asp Ile Ala Ser Leu Val 145 150 155 160 Thr Phe Val Lys Asp Trp Ala Thr Thr Thr Ala Lys Gly Lys Ser Asn 165 170 175 Ser Thr Ile Glu Phe Ala Glu Thr Thr Ile Tyr Pro Pro Pro Pro Ser 180 185 190 His Met Tyr Glu Gln Phe Pro Ser Thr Asp Ser Asp Ser Asn Ile Thr 195 200 205 Ser Lys Tyr Val Leu Lys Arg Phe Val Phe Glu Pro Ser Lys Ile Ala 210 215 220 Glu Leu Lys His Lys Ala Ala Ser Glu Ser Val Pro Val Pro Thr Arg 225 230 235 240 Val Glu Ala Ile Met Ser Leu Ile Trp Arg Cys Ala Arg Asn Ser Ser 245 250 255 Arg Ser Asn Leu Leu Ile Pro Arg Gln Ala Val Met Trp Gln Ala Met 260 265 270 Asp Ile Arg Leu Arg Ile Pro Ser Ser Val Ala Pro Lys Asp Val Ile 275 280 285 Gly Asn Leu Gln Ser Gly Phe Ser Leu Lys Lys Asp Ala Glu Ser Glu 290 295 300 Phe Glu Ile Pro Glu Ile Val Ala Thr Phe Arg Lys Asn Lys Glu Arg 305 310 315 320 Val Asn Glu Met Ile Lys Glu Ser Leu Gln Gly Asn Thr Ile Gly Gln 325 330 335 Ser Leu Leu Ser Leu Met Ala Glu Thr Val Ser Glu Ser Thr Glu Ile 340 345 350 Asp Arg Tyr Ile Met Ser Ser Trp Cys Arg Lys Pro Phe Tyr Glu Val 355 360 365 Asp Phe Gly Ser Gly Ser Pro Val Trp Val Gly Tyr Ala Ser His Thr 370 375 380 Ile Tyr Asp Asn Met Val Gly Val Val Leu Ile Asp Ser Lys Glu Gly 385 390 395 400 Asp Gly Val Glu Ala Trp Ile Ser Leu Pro Glu Glu Asp Met Ser Val 405 410 415 Phe Val Asp Asp Gln Glu Leu Leu Ala Tyr Ala Val Leu Asn Pro Pro 420 425 430 Val Val Ala 435 76 458 PRT Arabidopsis thaliana 76 Met Pro Met Leu Met Ala Thr Arg Ile Asp Ile Ile Gln Lys Leu Asn 1 5 10 15 Val Tyr Pro Arg Phe Gln Asn His Asp Lys Lys Lys Leu Ile Thr Leu 20 25 30 Ser Asn Leu Asp Arg Gln Cys Pro Leu Leu Met Tyr Ser Val Phe Phe 35 40 45 Tyr Lys Asn Thr Thr Thr Arg Asp Phe Asp Ser Val Phe Ser Asn Leu 50 55 60 Lys Leu Gly Leu Glu Glu Thr Met Ser Val Trp Tyr Pro Ala Ala Gly 65 70 75 80 Arg Leu Gly Leu Asp Gly Gly Gly Cys Lys Leu Asn Ile Arg Cys Asn 85 90 95 Asp Gly Gly Ala Val Met Val Glu Ala Val Ala Thr Gly Val Lys Leu 100 105 110 Ser Glu Leu Gly Asp Leu Thr Gln Tyr Asn Glu Phe Tyr Glu Asn Leu 115 120 125 Val Tyr Lys Pro Ser Leu Asp Gly Asp Phe Ser Val Met Pro Leu Val 130 135 140 Val Ala Gln Val Thr Arg Phe Ala Cys Gly Gly Tyr Ser Ile Gly Ile 145 150 155 160 Gly Thr Ser His Ser Leu Phe Asp Gly Ile Ser Ala Tyr Glu Phe Ile 165 170 175 His Ala Trp Ala Ser Asn Ser His Ile His Asn Lys Ser Asn Ser Lys 180 185 190 Ile Thr Asn Lys Lys Glu Asp Val Val Ile Lys Pro Val His Asp Arg 195 200 205 Arg Asn Leu Leu Val Asn Arg Asp Ala Val Arg Glu Thr Asn Ala Ala 210 215 220 Ala Ile Cys His Leu Tyr Gln Leu Ile Lys Gln Ala Met Met Thr Tyr 225 230 235 240 Gln Glu Gln Asn Arg Asn Leu Glu Leu Pro Asp Ser Gly Phe Val Ile 245 250 255 Lys Thr Phe Glu Leu Asn Gly Asp Ala Ile Glu Ser Met Lys Lys Lys 260 265 270 Ser Leu Glu Gly Phe Met Cys Ser Ser Phe Glu Phe Leu Ala Ala His 275 280 285 Leu Trp Lys Ala Arg Thr Arg Ala Leu Gly Leu Arg Arg Asp Ala Met 290 295 300 Val Cys Leu Gln Phe Ala Val Asp Ile Arg Lys Arg Thr Glu Thr Pro 305 310 315 320 Leu Pro Glu Gly Phe Ser Gly Asn Ala Tyr Val Leu Ala Ser Val Ala 325 330 335 Ser Thr Ala Arg Glu Leu Leu Glu Glu Leu Thr Leu Glu Ser Ile Val 340 345 350 Asn Lys Ile Arg Glu Ala Lys Lys Ser Ile Asp Gln Gly Tyr Ile Asn 355 360 365 Ser Tyr Met Glu Ala Leu Gly Gly Ser Asn Asp Gly Asn Leu Pro Pro 370 375 380 Leu Lys Glu Leu Thr Leu Ile Ser Asp Trp Thr Lys Met Pro Phe His 385 390 395 400 Asn Val Gly Phe Gly Asn Gly Gly Glu Pro Ala Asp Tyr Met Ala Pro 405 410 415 Leu Cys Pro Pro Val Pro Gln Val Ala Tyr Phe Met Lys Asn Pro Lys 420 425 430 Asp Ala Lys Gly Val Leu Val Arg Ile Gly Leu Asp Pro Arg Asp Val 435 440 445 Asn Gly Phe Ser Asn His Phe Leu Asp Cys 450 455 

We claim:
 1. A purified protein, the amino acid sequence of which comprises SEQ ID NO: 52, or SEQ ID NO: 54, or a conservative variant thereof.
 2. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein according to claim
 1. 3. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 2, wherein the isolated nucleic acid molecule has a nucleic acid sequence identity greater than about 70% identical to SEQ ID NO: 51 or greater than about 70% identical to SEQ ID NO:
 53. 4. A recombinant nucleic acid molecule, comprising a promoter sequence operably linked to a nucleic acid molecule according to claim
 2. 5. A cell transformed with a recombinant nucleic acid molecule according to claim
 4. 6. An isolated nucleic acid molecule that: hybridizes under low-stringency conditions with a nucleic acid probe, the probe comprising a sequence according to SEQ ID NO: 51 or SEQ ID NO: 53, or a fragment thereof, and encodes a protein having transacylase activity.
 7. A transacylase encoded by the nucleic acid molecule according claim
 6. 8. A recombinant nucleic acid molecule, comprising a promoter sequence operably linked to a nucleic acid molecule according to claim
 6. 9. A cell transformed with a recombinant nucleic acid molecule according to claim
 8. 10. An isolated nucleic acid molecule that: has greater than about 70% sequence identity with a nucleic acid sequence provided by SEQ ID NO: 51 or SEQ ID NO: 53; and encodes a protein having transacylase activity.
 11. A transacylase encoded by the nucleic acid molecule of claim
 10. 12. A purified protein having transacylase activity, comprising an amino acid sequence selected from the group consisting of: (a) an amino acid sequence provided by SEQ ID NO: 52 or SEQ ID NO: 54; or (b) an amino acid sequence that differs from the amino acid sequence specified in (a) by one or more conservative amino acid substitutions.
 13. An isolated nucleic acid molecule encoding a protein according to claim
 12. 14. An isolated nucleic acid molecule according to claim 13, wherein the isolated nucleic acid molecule has a sequence provided by SEQ ID NO: 51 or SEQ ID NO:
 53. 15. A recombinant nucleic acid molecule, comprising a promoter sequence operably linked to the nucleic acid molecule of claim
 14. 16. A cell transformed with a recombinant nucleic acid molecule according to claim
 15. 